''Anastatus bifasciatus'' is a species of

parasitoid wasp Parasitoid wasps are a large group of hymenopteran 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, sooner or later causin ...

in the family Eupelmidae. 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 be ...

, ''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 moth in the family Erebidae. ''Lymantria dispar'' is subdivided into several subspecies, with subspecies such as ''L. d. dispar'' and ''L. d. japonica'' bei ...

'') eggs in North America. ''A. bifasciatus'' is a widespread generalist

egg parasitoid In evolutionary ecology, a parasitoid is an organism that lives in close association with its host at the host's expense, eventually resulting in the death of the host. Parasitoidism is one of six major evolutionary strategies within parasitis ...

of various arthropods, especially

lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...

and

hemiptera Hemiptera (; ) is an order (biology), order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising over 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, Reduviidae, assassin bugs, Cimex, bed bugs, and shield bugs. ...

. 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 Hymenoptera Parasitic wasps Insects of Europe Biological control agents of pest insects Insects described in 1785 Taxa named by Étienne Louis Geoffroy Eupelmidae