Braconid wasps
(Opius spp.)
Overview • Description • Distribution • Taxonomy
Overview
Opius is a very large genus of very small parasitic wasps. It occurs worldwide on every continent except Antarctica. There are currently 1,133 recognized Opius species worldwide, more than 46 species in North America north of Mexico, and at least 1 species, though probably many more, in Minnesota.
The vast majority of species in the subfamily Opiinae were, and continue to be, placed in the genus Opius, which makes it a highly diverse and taxonomically challenging group. Its current size of over a thousand species reflects its status as a broadly defined genus which has historically served as the default placement for many Opiinae species lacking distinct characteristics. It is characterized more by the absence of definitive, synapomorphic traits (shared, derived traits) rather than the presence of unique defining features. Many species have already been segregated into new genera, and extensive future revision is anticipated.
Opius species are internal parasites of circular-seamed flies (infraorder Cyclorrhapha), especially leaf-miner flies (family Agromyzidae) and fruit flies (family Tephritidae). They are characterized as koinobiont endoparasitoids, meaning that the female wasp typically injects an egg into a young fly larva, which continues to live and feed as the wasp develops internally. The wasp larva completes its development and pupates within the protective puparium of its host fly. Opius species are often found in cultivated fields, orchards, and native plant communities, wherever their cyclorrhaphan hosts are present.
Description
Opius species are small to very small, mostly 1⁄16″ to ⅛″ (1.5 to 4.0 mm) in length. The genus is highly diverse. It is broadly defined mostly by characteristics that its species do not have, but also by characteristics that most but not all share. However, there are two characteristics shared by all Opius species.
A key anatomical feature is the absence of the epicnemial carina, the vertical ridge that typically separates the front portion (epicnemium) of the mesepisternum (the middle side plate of the thorax).
On the wings, the second submarginal cell is large and long. Vein 3RSa is at least 1.2 times as long as vein 2RS.
Distribution |
||
|
Sources Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 11/26/2025).
|
|
| 11/26/2025 | ||
Taxonomy
Order
Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies)
Suborder
Apocrita (Narrow-waisted Wasps, Ants, and Bees)
Superfamily
Ichneumonoidea (Ichneumonid and Braconid Wasps)
Family
Subfamily
Opiinae
Genus
Opius
Subordinate Taxa
Opius aethiops
Opius ambiguus
Opius anastrephae
Opius arenaceus
Opius attributus
Opius baldufi 
Opius bellus
Opius brunneiventris
Opius capeki
Opius caricivorae
Opius carpocapsae
Opius celsus
Opius chillcotti
Opius christenseni
Opius chromatomyiae
Opius cinerariae
Opius cingulatus
Opius colombina
Opius coloradensis
Opius completus
Opius connivens
Opius cordobensis
Opius coriaceus
Opius cortesanus
Opius curvatus
Opius dariae
Opius dimidiatus
Opius dissitus
Opius diversicurrens
Opius downesi
Opius estoniacola
Opius eupatorii
Opius euplasticus
Opius exiguus
Opius extrafactus
Opius flavitarsis
Opius flosshilda
Opius galomirus
Opius gracilis
Opius graviceps
Opius grenadanus
Opius haeselbarthi
Opius hermosanus
Opius heterocephalus
Opius heterochromus
Opius heterogaster
Opius heteropterus
Opius hirtus
Opius hluluhwegamenicus
Opius hollisterensis
Opius impressiformis
Opius kallibasis
Opius kalligaster
Opius katonensis
Opius katonicus
Opius larissa
Opius lemonensis
Opius levis
Opius longifoveatus
Opius longissimicauda
Opius lucidus
Opius lugens
Opius luteus
Opius magnicauda
Opius malivorellae
Opius mandibularis
Opius manifestarius
Opius maraquoanus
Opius margateensis
Opius maximiliani
Opius meladermatus
Opius melanagromyzae
Opius melanarius
Opius metatensis
Opius microscopicus
Opius minicornis
Opius minusculus
Opius mitiformis
Opius mitis
Opius montanus
Opius nigricolor
Opius novosimilis
Opius nympha
Opius occulisus
Opius orbiculator
Opius orizabensis
Opius otiosus
Opius pactus
Opius pallicoxis
Opius palligaster
Opius pallipes
Opius paraplasticus
Opius parkercreekensis
Opius parvungula
Opius pendulus
Opius pilgrimorum
Opius podomelas
Opius propodealis
Opius propofoveatus
Opius pulicariae
Opius punanus
Opius punctulatus
Opius pygmaeator
Opius pygmaeus
Opius radialis
Opius robustus
Opius rugificus
Opius sanmiguelensis
Opius schmidti
Opius signicoxa
Opius similis
Opius simillimus
Opius sinenotaulis
Opius staryi
Opius superficiarius
Opius taddei
Opius terebrifer
Opius tergitalis
Opius tersus
Opius tolucaensis
Opius turcicus
Opius wellgunda
Opius woglinda
Opius zacapuensis
Synonyms
Aclisis
Allotypus
Aulonotus
Baeocentrum
Cryptonastes
Eristernaulax
Eutrichopsis
Hexaulax
Holconotus
Hypocynodus
Hypolabis
Mesostoma
Misophthora
Nosopoea
Therobolus
Tolbia
Common Names
This genus has no common name. The common name of the family Braconidae os braconid wasps, and it is applied here for convenience.
Visitor Photos
Share your photo of this insect.
This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.
Alfredo Colon |
| |
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
|
Slideshows
Visitor Videos
Share your video of this insect.
This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.
Other Videos
Visitor Sightings
Report a sighting of this insect.
This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
Alfredo Colon
8/8/2022
Location: Albany, NY
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
