Explanation of Names
Latin atratus means, "clothed in black as for mourning". (Based on Internet searches.)
Size
Female: body is 38 mm, ovipositor 130 mm, antennae 24 mm.
Male: 35 mm (body), antennae 13 mm
Identification
Female M. atrata is very dark black and yellow. Male is, apparently, similar to other males of this genus, though perhaps with a darker abdomen. (See Internet references.)
Range
Eastern North America: widespread, reported from Quebec, Michigan, Ohio, Carolinas, Florida.
Habitat
Forests, esp. deciduous forests.
Season
May-July (North Carolina)
Life Cycle
Parasitoids of wood-boring insects. From Florida, hosts are listed as: Siricid (woodwasp) larvae (including Tremex, Eriotremex?) in dead deciduous trees.
Internet References
North Carolina State University Entomology lists all four species for that state, with number pinned in collection: atrata (32), greeni (16), macrurus (79), nortoni (8).
Contributed by
Cotinis on 29 August, 2004 - 7:00am
Last updated 27 February, 2005 - 7:42am
