Recent advances in mass rearing and field application of parasitoid wasps with Antheraea pernyi as intermediate hosts

The Chinese oak silkworm (Antheraea pernyi Guérin-Méneville, COS) is a distinctive biological resource in China, renowned for its high economic value. As a key intermediate host for mass-rearing parasitoid wasps, COS has attracted significant attention for its exceptional potential in enhancing biological control programs. Recent advances have systematically addressed critical technical challenges in the mass production of parasitoid wasps using COS eggs. Innovative approaches, such as multiparasitism and multigenerational domestication, have now enabled the successful rearing of key parasitoid species, including Trichogramma ostriniae and Trichogramma leucaniae. Concurrently, optimized rearing conditions have been established to maximize the parasitic efficiency of wasps on COS eggs, facilitating a progressive expansion of their practical applications. This review synthesizes recent advances in: (1) parasitoid wasp species successfully reared using COS eggs, larvae and pupae, respectively, and (2) innovative mass-rearing techniques, and (3) their field applications in agricultural and forestry pest management systems. Furthermore, this review critically examines current challenges and limitations in both research and field applications, aiming to expand the significance of COS eggs for future industrialized mass production of parasitoid wasps.