Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Megischus bicolor (
Westwood, 1841).
Aguiar reports two undescribed species similar to M. bicolor.
Size
20 mm--male
(1), female body about 25 mm (1 inch), including ovipositor, 50 mm or more (
guide photo).
Identification
See photos, family description.
Reported to have two morphs, previously described as subspecies: "one with head and pronotum ferrugineous (M. b. bicolor) and another uniformly brown or blackish (M. b. sickmanni)" (
Stephanid home page--Alexandre Pires Aguiar)
Range
Eastern United States. (Taber
(1) reports this species occurs from "coast-to-coast".) John Ascher reports
here that only two stephanid species are found in eastern North America (east of Oklahoma and Texas):
Megischus brunneus from southern Florida
Megischus bicolor from New England south to S Florida.
See notes about taxonomy above.
Habitat
Coniferous and mixed woodlands
Season
May-July (southeast), later in year in Florida, apparently (guide photos).
Food
Male reported from a wounded mulberry,
Morus, in Texas
(1), so perhaps they take sap and other fluids.
Life Cycle
Parasitoids of beetles and/or wasps. Adult (1) seen on the trunk of a pine tree (Loblolly Pine, Pinus taeda) in Orange County, North Carolina. The "crown-of-thorns" on the head is thought to help the adult emerge from its pupation site.
Aguiar
reports they are attracted to blue objects. He used blue bowls with soap solution to collect them.
Print References
Taber, page 62, fig. 51--photo of male, gives some life history and a common name
(1).
Internet References
North Carolina State University Entomology Collection has 3 pinned--this species being the only member of the family listed for that state.
The Stephanidae Homepage (Alexandre Pires Aguiar), including images:
Image 1,
Image 4
