Cotesia wasps

Cotesias are braconid wasps - very small beneficial parasitic wasps that are effective against a number of caterpillar pests. Target hosts include armyworms, bollworms, cabbage worms, cutworms, corn earworms, cabbage loopers and celery loopers, diamondback and gypsy moths, hornworms, stem borers, and webworms.

Cotesia wasps may be attracted to your garden by planting small-flowered plants like Queen Anne's lace and sweet alyssum for the food they provide for the adult wasps, and for the protection they offer. A single adult wasp will parasitize hundreds of caterpillars.

Two Cotesia species are also available commercially: specifically, Cotesia marginiventris, used against the beet armyworm, and Cotesia plutellae, which parasitizes the diamondback moth caterpillar.

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