Lissopimpla excelsa
| Lissopimpla excelsa | ||||||||||||
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Lissopimpla excelsa |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Lissopimpla excelsa | ||||||||||||
| ( Costa , 1864) |
Lissopimpla excelsa is a hymenoptera fromthe parasitic wasp family (Ichneumonidae). The species is common in Australia and New Zealand.
description
Lissopimpla excelsa is a medium to large parasitic wasp. Females reach a length of 17 mm, in addition there are the antennae with 16 mm length and the sheath of the ovipositors with 9 mm length. The length of the front wing is 14 mm. The males stay a little smaller. While the size is quite variable, deviating colors are rare.
The head is reddish brown. There is a black, slightly recessed ring around the point eyes . The edge of the complex eyes is yellow. The antennae are also red-brown, sometimes darker towards the tip. The basal phalanx is enlarged distally , followed by 62 to 65 more phalanges, which become smaller and smaller towards the tip. In the male, the area between the eyes is black with a yellow triangle.
The first segment of the thorax is reddish brown. In the second segment, the back is divided by two converging furrows ( notauli ). The scutellum is set off by a pit and has large keels at the side. Notauli and Scutellum are marked in yellow. The mesopleurae have some characteristic depressions and a central groove. The third segment is keeled lengthways on the back. Here and on the sides (metapleurae) there can also be a yellow mark.
The propodeum is reddish brown, the front is fluted, on the top with a flat elevation, the sides are provided with a keel that ends in a blunt or pointed elevation.
The hips are red-brown and at least on the side facing away from the body with dots. The legs are also reddish brown, they darken in front of the tarsus and end in black claws. The femur of the third leg has a groove on the underside that ends in a tooth. The tibia of the second and especially the third leg are covered with small teeth.
The wings are dark brown or black-blue in color, the end facing away from the body is lighter.
The abdomen has four black segments with white spots on the sides. The following segments are reddish brown again. The ovipositor is dark brown to almost black.
Way of life
The species parasitizes the pupa or prepupa of various butterflies (Lepidoptera). The larva of Lissopimpla excelsa develops within the butterfly pupa, the adult insect hatches.
The males of Lissopimpla excelsa are attracted by orchids of the genus Cryptostylis . Their flower mimics the female insect, the males act as pollinators when attempting copulation.
distribution
Lissopimpla excelsa is widespread and common in Australia. The species is also found in New Zealand, the Kermadec Islands and Fiji .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i Arthur W. Parrott: New Zealand Ichneumonida. II . In: Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand . tape 80 , 1952, pp. 156-163 ( govt.nz ).
- ↑ a b c d e f g Ian D. Gauld: The Pimplinae, Xoridinae, Acaenitinae and Lycorininae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) of Australia . In: Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology . tape 49 , no. 4 , 1984, pp. 274-375 ( biostor.org ).
- ^ David L. Jones: Native Orchids of Australia . Reed New Holland, 2006, ISBN 1-877069-12-4 , pp. 267 .
