Cyanopterus ninghais (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a newly discovered parasitoid on the 3rd-5th instar larvae of the Japanese pine sawyer, Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). We investigated the functional response of C. ninghais at three temperatures (20, 25, and 30 °C) and examined mutual interference. Results showed that C. ninghais had a Holling Type II functional response at all temperatures. By increasing the density of the M. alternatus larvae, the number of parasitized larvae increased until a maximum was reached. The parasitoid was most effective (a′/Th) at 30 °C (0.270) and an individual female wasp’s attack rate (a′) was 0.158, the handling time (Th) was 0.587, and the maximum theoretical parasitization rate per day (T/Th) was 11.927. However, the per capita parasitized level and per capita searching efficiency decreased significantly when the parasitoid density ranged from one to five. These findings suggest that intraspecific mutual interference and competition occur when multiple females search for a host in the same area. This study demonstrates that C. ninghais serves as an effective biocontrol agent, displaying strong control capabilities against M. alternatus larvae, with the potential for further development in the context of biological pest management targeting M. alternatus.

Sclerodermus guani is the most extensively studied and widely used parasitoid wasp for controlling forest trunk-boring pests in China, with temperature being a key environmental factor affecting its development and reproduction. Against the backdrop of global climate change, the frequency of heat stress on parasitoid wasps is increasing. Therefore, studying their adaptability to heat stress is of great significance for breeding heat-tolerant strains. The findings of such research may help improve efficiency in rearing this wasp and provide guidance for its use in pest control. This study investigated the thermal adaptability of the wasp at temperatures ranging from 21 to 33 °C. The results showed that temperature significantly affected its parasitism capacity and behavior. As temperature increased, female wasps searched for and stung hosts more actively, and their pre-oviposition period decreased, as well as their developmental duration. The reproductive fitness of the wasp also varied significantly with temperature, with the most favorable temperatures being 27 °C and 30 °C. Both low and high temperatures were detrimental to its reproduction, and the difference in the number of female offspring was significant. The experimental results indicate that S. guani has higher reproductive fitness at 27–30 °C. Therefore, it is recommended that this parasitoid wasp be reared indoors at 27–30 °C and released for pest control in forests when the temperature is above 24 °C.

Sclerodermus sichuanensis, a parasitic wasp, plays a significant role in wood-boring forest pest control in China. Research has shown that the photoperiod significantly affects the development and reproduction of parasitic wasps. However, the effects of the photoperiod on S. sichuanensis have not yet been reported. This study investigates the impact of different photoperiods on the developmental duration and reproduction of S. sichuanensis. The wasps were reared under four photoperiod conditions: 0L:24D, 8L:16D, 16L:8D, and 24L:0D. The results show that increased light duration shortened the egg, larval, and pupal stages, with the total developmental period decreasing by up to 17 days. The number of offspring was highest in the 8L:16D and 16L:8D treatments, while constant light (24L:0D) led to a significant decrease in offspring numbers. The parasitism rate and pre-oviposition period were also affected by light exposure, with the longest pre-oviposition period observed in complete darkness. These findings indicate that the photoperiod plays a crucial role in regulating the development and reproductive efficiency of S. sichuanensis, suggesting that appropriate light conditions could enhance the efficiency of its use in pest control.

Cyanopterus ninghais is an important gregarious ectoparasitoid during the larval stage of Monochamus alternatus, a key vector for pine wilt disease in Asia. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of C. ninghais was sequenced and analyzed. The mitochondrial genome of C. ninghais is 15,386 bp in length, comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs). The nucleotide composition is 41.32% A, 8.29% G, 6.06% C, and 44.33% T. Phylogenetic trees of Braconidae were constructed using 13 PCG sequences via Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) analyses to determine their phylogenetic position. Both ML and BI analyses revealed that C. ninghais is closely related to Euurobracon yokahamae, Virgulibracon endoxylaphagus, and Habrobracon hebetor.