Animal Species:Ichneumonid wasps

Number of species

2000

Identification

Ichneumonid wasps have long antennae with 16 or more segments, whereas most other wasps have 13 or less. Some female ichneumonid wasps have a very long ovipositor (a tube-like structure for laying eggs) which is used to reach insect larvae such as wood grubs which burrow in bark and wood. This is a modification of the sting that is present in other wasps, so most ichneumonid wasps cannot sting humans, with the exception of the larger orange species in the subfamily Ophioninae. Wasps in the family Ichneumonidae are superficially similar to the related family Braconidae, but ichneumonids are usually larger insects, and differ in details such as the pattern of wing veins and the structure of the abdomen.

Size range

2.5 cm

Similar Species

parasitic wasps in the family Braconidae

Distribution

Ichneumonid wasps are found throughout Australia.

Habitat

Ichneumonid wasps live in urban areas, woodlands and forests, wetlands.

Feeding and Diet

null

Other behaviours and adaptations

null

Communication

null

Life cycle

null

Predators, Parasites and Diseases

null

Evolutionary Relationships

null

Economic/social impacts

null

Management

null

Danger to humans and first aid

null

Classification

Family:

Ichneumonidae

Superfamily:

Ichneumonoidea

Suborder:

Apocrita

Order:

Hymenoptera

Class:

Insecta

Subphylum:

Uniramia

Phylum:

Arthopoda

Kingdom:

Animalia

What does this mean?

Further Reading

null

References

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Last Updated: 27 June 2009

Tags wasps, insects, arthropods, invertebrates, identification, wildlife of sydney,