Cotesia marginiventris |

Last updated: 23/08/2025
|
 |
(Also known as: Cotesia marginiventris; Lepidopteran parasitic wasp) |
The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement. These hazard alerts do not take account of usage patterns or exposure, thus do not represent risk.
Environmental fate |
Ecotoxicity |
Human health |
  |
  |
|
|
A parasitic wasp that can be used for the biocontrol of various caterpillars |
|
Various caterpillars including noctuid pests such as beet armyworm, cabbage looper |
|
Brassicae; Other leafy vegetables |
|
- |
|
Adults are small (~3mm), dark wasps and resemble flying ants or tiny flies. They have two pairs of wings. Larvae occur in an irregular mass of yellow silken cocoons attached to the host larva or to plant leaves. Eggs are laid inside host larvae which then hatch and feed upon the host. Larvae emerge to spin cocoons on or near the dead host. |
|
Class: Insecta; Order: Hymenoptera; Family: Braconidae |
|
Not applicable |
|
Not applicable |
|
Not applicable |
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414) |
|
Not applicable |
|
Not applicable |
|
Not applicable |
|
Not applicable |
|
No |
|
ATAustria |
BEBelgium |
BGBulgaria |
CYCyprus |
CZCzech Republic |
DEGermany |
DKDenmark |
EEEstonia |
ELGreece |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
ESSpain |
FIFinland |
FRFrance |
HRCroatia |
HUHungary |
IEIreland |
ITItaly |
LTLithuania |
LULuxembourg |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
LVLatvia |
MTMalta |
NLNetherlands |
PLPoland |
PTPortugal |
RORomania |
SESweden |
SISlovenia |
SKSlovakia |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
|
|
ISIceland |
NONorway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
  |
|
|
Not applicable |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
Yes |
|
Insectivore |
|
Macro-organism |
|
- |
|
- |
|
Natural |
|
Parasitism and consumption |
|
Thought to originate from Cuba and the West Indies |
|
Crop protection |
|
Various caterpillars including noctuid pests such as beet armyworm, cabbage looper |
|
Brassicae; Other leafy vegetables |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
Most countries require a licence to be issued before non-native macro-organisms may be released as biocontrol agents |
|
- |
|
Not applicable |
|
Not applicable |
|
Not applicable |
|
Not applicable |
|
- |
|
Living organism |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Usually supplied as adults and released in the infested area at a rate of around 400 per ha. |
|
Commercial insect rearing begins with selecting high-quality breeding stock and maintaining ideal environmental conditions to support egg laying and larval development. Insects are housed in modular trays or bins and fed organic substrates close to their natural diet. Automated systems regulate climate, airflow, and carbon dioxide levels to ensure uniform growth and prevent disease outbreaks. Once larvae reach maturity, they are separated from the substrate, cleaned, and processed into protein-rich products for use. The remaining frass (insect waste) is repurposed as a nutrient-rich fertiliser, making insect farming a circular and sustainable enterprise. |
|
According to environmental studies, insect farming can produce as little as 1–5 kg CO₂e per kg of insect biomass, depending on species, feed type, and energy sources used. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below. |
|
- |
Soil adsorption and mobility |
|
None
Terrestrial ecotoxicology |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source No adverse effects expected or identified |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source No adverse effects expected or identified |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
- |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source No adverse effects expected or identified |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source No adverse effects expected or identified |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Not applicable |
- |
- |
|
- |
Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source No adverse effects expected or identified |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
Carcinogen |
|
Endocrine disruptor |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data ; E3 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 3 = Negative |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
Reproduction / development effects |
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor |
Neurotoxicant |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
Respiratory tract irritant |
Skin irritant |
Skin sensitiser |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
No data found |
Eye irritant |
Phototoxicant |
  |
XNo, known not to cause a problem |
No data found |
  |
|
|
No adverse health effects identified |
|
|
|
No information available |
|
- |
|
Not listed (Not listed) |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
|
|
Cotesia marginiventris |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
Record last updated: |
23/08/2025 |
Contact: |
aeru@herts.ac.uk |
Please cite as: |
Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242 |