Heteropelma
Genus of wasps
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Ichneumonidae |
| Tribe: | Gravenhorstiini |
| Genus: | Heteropelma Wesmael, 1849 |
Reproduction
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]
Species
- Heteropelma amictum
- Heteropelma fulvitarse
- Heteropelma megarthrum
- Heteropelma signatum
- Heteropelma szepligetii
