Biological control in agriculture is an eco-friendly pest management method. Numerous parasitoid wasps have been utilized as natural enemies and biological control agents. However, due to a shortage of fundamental taxonomic information caused by taxonomic impediments, there are challenges in unveiling and developing hymenopteran biological control agents. Braconidae, the second-largest family in Hymenoptera, comprises approximately 25,000 species described and recorded. All known braconids attack only insect hosts, with many members exhibiting high host specificity. Leveraging their unique biology, many braconid species have been tested in biological control research, and some have been developed as commercial products. To create a synergistic effect between biological control and taxonomic research and to discover effective biological control agents, several collaborative research projects have been conducted. In this presentation, these collaborative research projects will highlight the critical role of bridging taxonomic knowledge and biological control expertise, offering potential solutions for more effective and sustainable pest management practices in agriculture.

• Ilgoo Kang(Department of Entomology, Kyungpook National University, 2559 Gyeongsang-daero, Sangju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea) Corresponding author