Certonotus fractinervis
Appearance
Certonotus fractinervis | |
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A female Certonotus fractinervis wasp | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Ichneumonidae |
Genus: | Certonotus |
Species: | C. fractinervis
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Binomial name | |
Certonotus fractinervis (Vollenhoven, 1873)
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Certonotus fractinervis is a parasitic wasp found in New Zealand, one of only two species of Labeninae found in New Zealand.[1][2] It preys on the elephant weevil.
Description
[edit]Certonotus fractinervis is the largest endemic wasp in New Zealand.[3] It has three long ovipositors.
Ecology
[edit]Certonotus fractinervis lays its eggs exclusively on the larvae of the elephant weevil.[4] It bores into trees using its ovipositor to lay its eggs on the larvae.
Occasionally, adults may feed upon water droplets that have gathered on fungus, which may be a source of sugar.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ Ward, D. (February 2011). "Poecilocryptus zealandicus sp. n. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Labeninae) from New Zealand". New Zealand Entomologist. 34 (1): 37–39. Bibcode:2011NZEnt..34...37W. doi:10.1080/00779962.2011.9722206. ISSN 0077-9962.
- ^ a b Wakelin, Michael (6 November 2018). "Drinking by Certonotus fractinervis (Hymenoptera: Ichnuemonidae) at a fungal fruiting body". The Wētā. 52: 65–67.
- ^ Early, John (24 September 2007). "Wasps and bees - Parasitic wasps". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
- ^ "Critter of the Week: Giant Ichneumonid Wasp". RNZ. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2024.