Agrothereutes lanceolatus is a common parasitoid attacking several woodland and orchard lepidopteran pests in Japan. This study was undertaken to examine development of A. lanceolatus when Galleria mellonella was used as a laboratory host. Both wild-caught and laboratory-reared females readily accepted G. mellonella cocoons for attack and oviposition. The percentage successful parasitism was over 80%, suggesting that G. mellonella was a very suitable host for A. lanceolatus. The parasitoid was a solitary species: Under superparasitisr lethal competition among early instars took place, and only one parasitoid developed to an adulthood, although two parasitoid offspring emerged in some exceptional cases. Female A. lanceolatus also accepted host cocoons containing pupae of the parasitoid Pimpla nipponica (Ichneumonidae) for oviposition, and the offspring developed successfully as a hyperparasitoid. This suggested that A. lanceolatus was a facultative hyperparasitoid. Life cycle and development; Development; Parasites diseases and disorders; Parasites; Insect parasites; Hosts; Insect hosts Galleria mellonella (Pyralidae); Hymenopteran parasites; Agrothereutes lanceolatus; Laboratory host acceptance & superparasitism occurrence Agrothereutes lanceolatus (Ichneumonidae); Larval development; Hymenopteran hosts; Pimpla nipponica; Hyperparasitism recorded in lepidopteran host; Lepidopteran hosts; Galleria mellonella; Laboratory host acceptance, larval development time & superparasitism occurrence Pimpla nipponica (Ichneumonidae); Hymenopteran parasites; Agrothereutes lanceolatus; Hyperparasitism recorded in lepidopteran host; Lepidopteran hosts; Galleria mellonella none