Species Metapelma spectabile

Classification · Explanation of Names · Identification · Range · Food · Remarks · Works Cited

Chalcid Wasp - Metapelma spectabile - female

Metallic parasitoid wasp - Metapelma spectabile - female

Metapelina spectaabile - Metapelma spectabile - female

Metallic Green Parasitoid Wasp - Lateral - Metapelma spectabile - female

Female, Metapelma spectabile? - Metapelma spectabile - female

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)

No Taxon ("Parasitica" - Parasitoid Wasps)

Superfamily Chalcidoidea (Chalcidoid Wasps)

Family Metapelmatidae

Subfamily Metapelmatinae

Genus Metapelma

Species spectabile (Metapelma spectabile)

Explanation of Names

Author: Westwood

Identification

Females of the two Metapelma species can be separated by the length of the ovipositor. The ovipositor of M. spectabile is roughly the length of the gaster whereas that of M. schwarzi is a fraction of the length of the gaster (~1/3).(1) Care is necessary with identification as coloration is not useful in separating the species.

Range

primarily eastern (CT, NY, & NJ, south to FL, west to KS & TX)(2)

Food

Larval hosts: Agrilus angelicus (in coast live oak), Chrysobothris femorata (in fruit trees and other hardwoods), Cylas formicarius (in sweet potato pest, bayhops), Magdalis olyra, & M. pandura (in cedar elm).(2)

Remarks

A relatively common and widespread parasitoid of various wood-boring beetles. [comment by Gary Gibson]

Works Cited

1.	Eupelmides exotiques (Hymenopt. Chalcididae). I. Les genres Metapelma Westw., Anastatoidea Gahan et Neanastatus Girault Ferrière, C. 1938. Annls Soc. ent. Fr. 107:25-72.

2.	Catalog of Hymenoptera in America North of Mexico Karl V. Krombein, Paul D. Hurd, Jr., David R. Smith, and B. D. Burks. 1979. Smithsonian Institution Press.

Contributed by Charley Eiseman on 8 October, 2010 - 9:28am
Additional contributions by KenW, PaleoJon
Last updated 11 May, 2022 - 6:45am

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