Ophionid Wasp (Short-tailed Ichneumon Wasp)
Scientific Name: Ophion luteus (or related species in the genus Ophion)
Order & Family: Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae
Size: 15 to 25 mm in body length
Natural Habitat
Found in gardens, woodlands, and fields; commonly enters homes as they are attracted to artificial lights at night.
Diet & Feeding
Adults feed on nectar and honeydew; larvae are koinobiont endoparasitoids of lepidopteran (caterpillar) larvae.
Behavior Patterns
They are nocturnal and strongly phototropic (attracted to light). Females search for host caterpillars at night to lay a single egg inside them. The host remains alive while the larva develops.
Risks & Benefits
Beneficial to the ecosystem as biological control for many moth species. They do not have a true stinger like social wasps, but the female's ovipositor is sharp and can deliver a small, painful prick if the insect is handled roughly; they are not aggressive to humans.
Identified on: 12/27/2025