Heteropelma | |
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Heteropelma amictum | |
Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Ichneumonidae |
Tribe: | Gravenhorstiini |
Genus: |
Heteropelma Wesmael, 1849 |
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 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]
Heteropelma | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Heteropelma amictum | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Ichneumonidae |
Tribe: | Gravenhorstiini |
Genus: |
Heteropelma Wesmael, 1849 |
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 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]