''Anastatus bifasciatus'' is a species of

parasitoid wasp Parasitoid wasps are a large group of hymenopteran Superfamily (zoology), superfamilies, with all but the wood wasps (Orussoidea) being in the wasp-waisted Apocrita. As parasitoids, they lay their eggs on or in the bodies of other arthropods, ...

in the family

Eupelmidae Eupelmidae is a family of parasitic wasps in the superfamily Chalcidoidea. The larvae of the majority are primary parasitoids, commonly on beetle larvae, though many other hosts are attacked, including spiders. Details of the life history varies ...

. It is native to Europe, and has been harnessed for augmentative biological control against the

brown marmorated stink bug The brown marmorated stink bug (''Halyomorpha halys'') is an insect in the family Pentatomidae, native to China, Japan, Korea, and other Asian regions. In September 1998, it was collected in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where it is believed to have ...

, ''Halyomorpha halys''. The study by Haye ''et al.'', 2015 especially demonstrates its effectiveness against the European BMSB invasion. It has also been considered as a biological control agent against spongy moth (''

Lymantria dispar ''Lymantria dispar'', also known as the gypsy moth or the spongy moth, is a species of Lepidoptera, moth in the family Erebidae native to Europe and Asia. ''Lymantria dispar'' is subdivided into several subspecies, with subspecies such as ''Ly ...

'') eggs in North America. ''A. bifasciatus'' is a widespread generalist egg parasitoid of various arthropods, especially

lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) or lepidopterans is an order (biology), order of winged insects which includes butterflies and moths. About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera have been described, representing 10% of the total described species of living organ ...

and

hemiptera Hemiptera (; ) is an order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising more than 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, assassin bugs, bed bugs, and shield bugs. They range in size from ...

. Females live for up to two months, while the males, which are smaller, only have adult lives of a few days. Females feed on nectar and honeydew.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q13370258 Parasitic wasps Insects of Europe Biological control agents of pest insects Insects described in 1785 Taxa named by Étienne Louis Geoffroy Eupelmidae