Amblyteles armatorius

Amblyteles armatorius
Amblyteles armatorius. Dorsal view
Amblyteles armatorius. Lateral view
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Suborder: Apocrita
Superfamily: Ichneumonoidea
Family: Ichneumonidae
Subfamily: Ichneumoninae
Genus: Amblyteles
Species: A. armatorius
Binomial name
Amblyteles armatorius
(Förster, 1771)
Synonyms

Amblyteles regius Tischbein, 1868[1]
Amblyteles diversorius (Stephens, 1835)[2]
Amblyteles signatorius (Olivier, 1792)[3]
Amblyteles dimicatorius (Gmelin, 1790)[4]
Amblyteles notatorius (Villers, 1789)[5]
Amblyteles bidentorius (Fabricius, 1775)[6]
Amblyteles fasciatorius (Fabricius, 1775)[6]

Amblyteles armatorius is a species of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae.[7][8]

Description

Amblyteles armatorius can reach a length of 12–16 mm, excluding antennae, that reach about 9 millimetres (0.35 in). The head and thorax of this large wasp are black, except the yellow scutellum. The abdomen is yellow and more oval in the females, with broad black bands. Legs are yellow, execept the hind legs, that are black and yellow. This species lacks the sting, so the characteristic markings of many aculeate wasps represent a protective mimicry. [9] [10] The female lacks also the long ovipositor present in most of the ichneumon wasps. [11]

Adults can be usually found in Summer on flowers, especially Apiaceae species, feeding on nectar and pollen. The adults overwinter. The females of this parasitic wasp lay their eggs into the caterpillars of moths. When they hatch larvae feed on their hosts, mainly Noctuidae and Notodontidae, but also some Geometridae, Lymantriidae, Saturniidae and Lasiocampidae (Calliteara pudibunda, Odontopera bidentata, Macrothylacia rubi and Saturnia pavonia). [12]

Distribution and habitat

This species is present in most of Europe, in the Near East, in the Nearctic ecozone and in the Oriental ecozone. [13] These wasps usually occurs in hedgerows, meadows and spruce forest edges.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Tischbein, P.F.L. (1868) Hymenopterologische Beitrage., Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung. 29:248-258.
  2. ↑ Stephens, J.F. (1835) Illustrations of British Entomology. Mandibulata. Vol. VII., Baldwin & Cradock, London. 306 pp. [Index, list of plates and errata published in 1845.]
  3. ↑ Olivier, M. (1792) Ichneumon., Encyclopedie methodique, Histoire naturelle. Insectes. 7:133-224.
  4. ↑ Gmelin, J.F. (1790) Caroli a Linne Systema Naturae (Ed. XIII). Tom I., G.E. Beer. Lipsiae. 2225-3020. (Ichneumon: 2674-2722).
  5. ↑ Villers, C. de (1789) Caroli Linnaei entomologia, Faunae Suecicae descriptionibus. Tomus tertius., Lugduni. 657 pp. (Ichneumon on pp. 134-218)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Fabricius, J.C. (1775) Systema Entomologiae, sistens Insectorum classes, ordines, genera, species., Flensburgi et Lipsae. 832 pp.
  7. ↑ Encyclopaedia of Life
  8. ↑ Biolib
  9. ↑ Nature Spot
  10. ↑ Insectoid.info
  11. ↑ Bioref.lastdragon
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Commanster
  13. ↑ Fauna Europaea