Latibulus
Genus of wasps
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Latibulus is a genus of wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. There are two species in Europe:[1]
| Latibulus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Ichneumonidae |
| Subfamily: | Cryptinae |
| Tribe: | Cryptini |
| Subtribe: | Sphecophagina |
| Genus: | Latibulus Gistel, 1848 |
Biology
Latibulus argiolus is a parasitoid which lies in wait in the near proximity of a Polistes paper wasp nest waiting for an opportunity for penetration and then, within a few seconds, lays an egg into a nest cell. The biology of the larva is unknown. There are two generations per year. The first emerges in the summer after pupation takes place in a yellowish cocoon within the cell; the second generation winters in a brown, resistant cocoon. The pupa of the second generation is able to break through the cell cover by making jerky movements. The pupa falls to the ground, looks for a recess by making rolling movements, and winters there.
