Heteropelma is a genus of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Ichneumonidae.[1] Species in this genus are around 25 mm in length.[2]
| Heteropelma | |
|---|---|
| |
| Heteropelma amictum | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Ichneumonidae |
| Tribe: | Gravenhorstiini |
| Genus: | Heteropelma Wesmael, 1849 |
Reproduction
editHeteropelma adults lay their eggs inside Lepidopteran larvae (i.e. caterpillars) by piercing them with their ovipositor. Heteropelma eggs consist of an equatorial disc and a caudal stalk, making them look a bit like the cartoon oil lamp from Aladdin. It's thought that the shape is adapted to attach the egg to the inside of the caterpillar's integument.[3] Once the eggs hatch, the larvae consume the caterpillar from the inside. They emerge from the deceased caterpillar as adults.[2]
Species
editReferences
edit- ^ "Heteropelma Wesmael, 1849". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
- ^ a b Gauld, I. D. (1976). "THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE ANOMALONINAE HYMENOPTERA ICHNEUMONIDAE". Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology. 33: 1–135.
- ^ Tothill, John D. (1922). The natural control of the fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea Drury) in Canada : together with an account of its several parasites. Ottawa: F.A. Acland, King's Printer. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.63051.
 | This Ichneumonidae-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |