Abstract: Many species of insect parasitoids not only parasitize hosts but can also feed and kill them. As for synovigenic parasitoid wasps, host-feeding behavior has been regarded as a common habit in them. In this article, host-feeding behaviors in hymenopteran parasitoids were summarized in the view of involved parasitoid species, foraging type, ecological significance, and impact factors over the past two decades. Parasitoid wasps kill significant numbers of hosts by feeding, as well as by parasitism, which plays important roles in reducing population size of insect pests. Meanwhile, host-feeding benefits the parasitoids by supplying nutrients needed for egg maturation and reproduction. Sometimes host-feeding also prolongs the longevity of parasitoids. Understanding the host-feeding strategies can provide important information for screening dominant insect parasitoids and evaluating their effectiveness in biological control on insect pests.

Key words: Host-feeding behavior, parasitism, synovigenic parasitoid, natural enemy, biological control