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The Japanese species of the ichneumonid genus Stauropoctonus Brauns, 1889 are revised. As a result, three species are recognized. Stauropoctonus infuscus (Uchida, 1928) stat. rev., previously synonymized with S. bombycivorus (Gravenhorst, 1829), is recognized as a valid species and re-described. Stauropoctonus bombycivorus, which has already been recorded in Japan, is also recognized and re-described based on Japanese specimens. Stauropoctonus aurantiacus sp. nov. is described based on a single male specimen from Yakushima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. Stauropoctonus nigrithorax Lee & Kim, 2002 syn. nov. is newly synonymized with S. bombycivorus. Additionally, a key to the Stauropoctonus species and discussions on their phenology and collection methods are provided.

Two Enicospilus species, E. melanocarpus Cameron and E. pseudoconspersae (Sonan), are newly recorded in Korea. A revised key on the whole known Korean species including above two species are presented.

Seven species of the genus Stauropoctonus are reviewed, with descriptions of one new species, Stauropoctonus nigrithorax n. sp. Therefore two species are recorded in South Korea. A diagnostic key and taxonomic remarks are presented.

1. Larvae of Nemeritis that have reached full growth in a caterpillar of Ephestia invariably push the host remains towards the closed end of the host cocoon and pupate with their heads towards the open end. Larvae reaching full growth in a pupal host are usually orientated in the same direction, but occasionally in reverse. 2. The parasitoid does not orientate itself by direct reference to the host cocoon but in relation to the final position of the host. The host remains are probably used as a point of reference. 3. As the parasitoid spins its own cocoon, it isolates itself from some external stimuli and has need of a new point of reference. It provides this by incorporating guide marks, in the form of areas of specially woven threads, in successive layers of its cocoon. 4. The final mark, on the innermost layer, not only indicates the anterior end of the cocoon, but also may help the adult to bite its way out. 5. The presence of similar marks has been observed in the cocoons of five other species of Ichneumonidae, representing the two subfamilies Ophioninae and Cryptinae. 6. The significance of these provisions for correct orientation of ichneumon wasps is briefly discussed.