蒲螨属Pyemotes具有特殊的生活史和形态特征，是多种害虫的体外寄生性天敌。蒲螨属的种按照形态等特点分为2个组，分别为小蠹蒲螨组(Pyemotes scolyti group)和球腹蒲螨组(Pyemotes ventricosusgroup)。国内外对蒲螨毒素的研究较多，已知其属于昆虫神经毒素，能使寄主昆虫永久性麻痹，有些种类还能引起人类和动物皮炎。对一些种类蒲螨的毒素组成成分、毒素基因重组技术等进行研究，对蒲螨毒素基因的优化和重组仍将是进一步研究的热点。作为一类很有潜能的害虫天敌资源，蒲螨应用方面的报道还较少，国外集中在麦蒲螨对仓储害虫和红火蚁的防治方面；我国有利用小蠹蒲螨防治小蠹虫的报道，近年来防治双条杉天牛取得成功，表明其用于防治钻蛀性害虫特别是蛀干害虫和地下害虫前景良好，因此，应对蒲螨蒲螨寄主谱、寄主选择机理、寄生机理等进行深入研究。

The species of Pyemotes spp. are parasitoids of many pests insects with unusual life history and morphological characters. They are morphologically divided into two groups, namely, Pyemotes scolyti group and Pyemotes ventricosus group. The toxin of Pyemotes has been studied extensively, which belonged to insect neurotoxin paralyzing and even killing the pest host. Some species may induce human dermatitis. The composition and gene recombination technique of the toxin have been being a hotspot in last two decades. As potential natural enemy, however, there were fewer reports on application of Pyemotes to pest biocontrol. Pyemotes tricit was used to control storage pests and the red imported fire ant in the world, and P. scolyti was used to control bark beetles in China. In recent years, Pyemotes have been successfully used in controlling Semanotus bifasciatus. It suggested a great prospect of Pyemotes for controlling of boring insect. The mechanism of the host selection, determination of host spectrum and parasitic mechanism of the Pyemotes need further research for better use.