| Aleiodes | |
|---|---|
| Aleiodes shakirae | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Braconidae |
| Subfamily: | Rogadinae |
| Tribe: | Aleidini |
| Genus: | Aleiodes |
Aleiodes (Greek ἀ "not", λείος "smooth", εἵδος "appearance") is a genus of the family Braconidae of parasitoid wasps described by Constantin Wesmael in 1838. They are also known as mummy-wasps. The female feeds on the caterpillars of various species, including many pests such as Gypsy moths and tent caterpillars, and then deposits eggs and wraps the prey in a “mummy”. The larva and pupa feed on the caterpillar, and the adult breaks out, leaving the wrapping behind.
There are thousands of species, including these: