Why Are Parasitic Wasps Useful?
Parasitic wasps live on or at the expense of other insects. Some of them are hyperparasites – they live on insects that are already parasitizing another insect. Parasitic wasps can be useful to farmers and growers because the insects they use in their life cycle can be insects that act as pests on crops and plants. The wasps keep the pests down – when the farmer or grower deliberately introduces the wasps to do this, it is known as a method of biological pest control. As an example, one species of chalcid wasp is widely used against a scale insect that attacks mulberry trees. It is really more accurate to say that the larvae of parasitic wasps are the most useful as they live off the eggs and larvae of other insects. The adult form is always free living and feeds on vegetation rather than other insects. The adult form is no use for biological control.
