Muscidifurax (genus - parasitoids)

Pteromalidae • Chalcidoidea (parasitoids) • Hymenoptera parasitoids • Beneficials/natural enemies

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Mucidifurax raptor laying an egg into a fly puparium (click on image to enlarge it)
Author(s): USDA ARS Photo Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Muscidifurax Girault & Sanders, 1910

The genus Muscidifurax contains around 5 species that parasitize the pupae of flies (Muscidae). They are used mainly (together with species of the genus Spalangia) for the biological control of house flies, Musca domestica, and stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans, in livestock farms.

Several species like Muscidifurax zaraptor and Muscidifurax raptor are produced commercially. They have been shown to be very effective in controlling filth flies but have a limited dispersal ability of only a few metres.

Currently, the following species have been entered into the system:

• Muscidifurax raptor (parasitoid)
• Muscidifurax raptorellus (parasitoid)
• Muscidifurax zaraptor (parasitoid)