''Cratichneumon culex'' is a species of the

parasitic wasp Parasitoid wasps are a large group of hymenopteran superfamilies, with all but the wood wasps ( Orussoidea) being in the wasp-waisted Apocrita. As parasitoids, they lay their eggs on or in the bodies of other arthropods, sooner or later cau ...

of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Ichneumonidae The Ichneumonidae, also known as the ichneumon wasps, Darwin wasps, or ichneumonids, are a family of parasitoid wasps of the insect order Hymenoptera. They are one of the most diverse groups within the Hymenoptera with roughly 25,000 species cu ...

. The species was first described by Müller in 1776.

Description

''Cratichneumon culex'' can reach a length of (excluding antennae). As usual in Incheumonidae these solitary parasitic wasps have an elongated abdomen and very long antennae. The body is black, while the legs are reddish or reddish with white markings and the antennae are partially white.

Distribution and habitat

This species can be found in most of Europe. It lives in hedge rows.

Biology

This species is a pupal parasitoid. Adults parasite the pupae of the winter moth ''

Operophtera brumata :''In North America, "winter moth" usually denotes the invasive species ''Operophtera brumata'', but may also mean refer to a native species, ''Erannis tiliaria'' (linden looper) or ''Operophtera bruceata'' (bruce spanworm).'' The winter moth ('' ...

''. Other recorded hosts are ''

Semiothisa ''Semiothisa'' is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae. It was erected by Jacob Hübner in 1818. Species Some species of this genus are: * '' Semiothisa albivia'' (Prout, 1915) * '' Semiothisa arenosa'' (Butler, 1875) * '' Semiothisa assi ...

'' species and '' Bupalus piniarius'' (

Geometridae The geometer moths are moths belonging to the family Geometridae of the insect order Lepidoptera, the moths and butterflies. Their scientific name derives from the Ancient Greek ''geo'' γεω (derivative form of or "the earth"), and ''metr ...

), '' Tethea or'' (

Drepanidae The Drepanidae are a family of moths with about 660 species described worldwide. They are generally divided in three subfamilies) which share the same type of hearing organ. Thyatirinae, previously often placed in their own family, bear a superf ...

), '' Notodonta dromedarius'' (

Notodontidae Notodontidae is a family of moths with approximately 3,800 known species. The family was described by James Francis Stephens in 1829. Moths of this family are found in all parts of the world, but they are most concentrated in tropical areas, esp ...

), '' Dasychira pudibunda'' ( Lymantridae) and '' Panolis flammea'' (

Noctuidae The Noctuidae, commonly known as owlet moths, cutworms or armyworms, are a family of moths. They are considered the most controversial family in the superfamily Noctuoidea because many of the clades are constantly changing, along with the othe ...

). These wasps are mainly active in the late summer. They search for their prey in the soil. The females lay eggs into pupae with the ovipositor.Hausmann, Axel & Viidalepp, Jaa
''Larentinae I''
/ref>

References

External links

Barry Fotopage
Ichneumonidae Insects described in 1776 Taxa named by Otto Friedrich Müller {{Ichneumonidae-stub