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WOWBug Biology

WOWBugs (Melittobia digitata) are a species of parasitic wasp in the family Eulophidae, order Hymenoptera. They are found all around the world. Fourteen Melittobia species have been described in scientific literature. However, only M. digitata is the WOWBug. The biology of the others differs in various ways.

WOWBugs are harmless to people. Like all other wasps, female WOWBugs do have a stinger. However, the WOWBug's stinger is so tiny that it can't penetrate human flesh. It can only be used on immature insects that are at a particularly vulnerable stage.

In nature, WOWBugs lay their eggs on the outside of the larvae or pupae of other insects. These hatch into tiny feeding machines that consume and destroy the host insect. It's essentially the same system used by gardeners, farmers, and greenhouse workers for biological control of many agricultural pests.

WOWBugs' natural hosts include a great number of different insect species. Mud dauber wasps are favorites. In the classroom or laboratory, WOWBugs can reproduce successfully upon blowfly puparia, which are commercially available through biological supply companies, such as Carolina Biological Supply.

For more about WOWBug biology, see "Why use WOWBugs?"