Tiny wasp-like insects in my house

Question: There are multiple tiny (less than 1/2 of a mm long) flying insects with what look like stingers hanging around my window frames inside my home kitchen. I looked them up and best I can gather they are Torymidae, parasitic wasps. Why are they here in my house? 
I took a picture using my microscope. One picture shows one of the insects in my finger so you can see how tiny it is.

responder: Answered by University of Maryland Extension faculty. For more information on a variety of yard and garden topics, visit the HGIC program web page and blog, Maryland Grows. Replied June 25, 2024, 10:34 AM EDT
response: Thank you for the clear photos, especially the close up photo from a microscope. Very helpful!  These insects do appear to be wasps that belong to the family Torymidae. Most species in this family are parasitic and parasitize gall forming insects, but some species could also parasitize larvae or eggs of caterpillars, bees, wasps, beetles, or flies.  The long appendage out the back of the wasp, that looks like a stinger, is their egg laying appendage (ovipositor). The good news is these parasitic wasps do not sting people or pets, they are only interested in finding a mate or an insect host to lay their eggs in. In regards to why they may be in your house, it is possible your kitchen window is near their host sites. If there is any plant material outside your window, they may be coming from plant galls or if there are any mason bees or another type of bee nest, they could be emerging from bee hosts within, near, or outside the kitchen window. They are not an indoor pest, so regardless they are inside your house accidentally. If you are curious you could look around for any signs of plant galls and/or bee nesting activity around your home to see if you can find the source. A very cool find!

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 26, 2024, 9:29 AM EDT
response: Thank you so much for the reply. I am an insect lover and I did not want to kill them, even if they made it indoors, unless they were a big nuisance, which they are not.  I do have plants outside the window that are frequented by bees and wasps. Good to know what the insects are and to understand their drivers On Jun 25, 2024 10:34 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote: -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  Dear Mary, here's the response to your question:  Thank you for the clear photos, especially the close up photo from a microscope. Very helpful!  These insects do appear to be wasps that belong to the family Torymidae. Most species in this family are parasitic and parasitize gall forming insects, but some species could also parasitize larvae or eggs of caterpillars, bees, wasps, beetles, or flies.  The long appendage out the back of the wasp, that looks like a stinger, is their egg laying appendage (ovipositor). The good news is these parasitic wasps do not sting people or pets, they are only interested in finding a mate or an insect host to lay their eggs in. In regards to why they may be in your house, it is possible your kitchen window is near their host sites. If there is any plant material outside your window, they may be coming from plant galls or if there are any mason bees or another type of bee nest, they could be emerging from bee hosts within, near, or outside the kitchen window. They are not an indoor pest, so regardless they are inside your house accidentally. If you are curious you could look around for any signs of plant galls and/or bee nesting activity around your home to see if you can find the source. A very cool find!     Need to reply to the expert? Click the link below, or simply reply to this email. Click here to view #0144253 Answered by University of Maryland Extension faculty. For more information on a variety of yard and garden topics, visit the HGIC program web page and blog, Maryland Grows.  We hope this response has sufficiently answered your questions. If not, please do not send another email. Instead, reply to this email or login to your account for a complete archive of all your support requests and responses.