Coccinellid larval parasitoids? - Pachyneuron - BugGuide.Net

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » "Parasitica" - Parasitoid Wasps » Chalcidoid Wasps (Chalcidoidea) » Pteromalid Wasps (Pteromalidae) » Pteromalinae » Pteromalini » Pachyneuron

Photo#216945

Copyright © 2008 Ken Schneider

Coccinellid larval parasitoids? - Pachyneuron

Mountain View, Santa Clara County, California, USA
August 17, 2008
Size: 1.5 mm

Here is one of the wasps that emerged from the larva, under high magnification.

Images of this individual: tag all

Coccinellid larval parasitoids? - Pachyneuron

Coccinellid larval parasitoids? - Pachyneuron

Coccinellid larval parasitoids? - Pachyneuron

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Contributed by Ken Schneider on 22 August, 2008 - 11:21pm
Last updated 9 March, 2018 - 9:45am

Moved

Moved from Pteromalids.

… Bob Zuparko, 9 March, 2018 - 9:45am

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This is the genus Pachyneuron

(marked by the wedge-shaped marginal vein), known as parasitoids of coccinellids.

… Bob Zuparko, 9 March, 2018 - 9:45am

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Pteromalidae…

The pteromalids are big-time pupal parasitoids. This one has the characteristic well-developed stigmal vein and 5-segmented tarsi. Even though it wasn't your intention, thanks for all the hard work and great pics because rearing out these wasps out has certainly helped to ID them.

… Ross Hill, 3 September, 2008 - 12:37am

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Thanks Ross!

I'm happy to either recover a mature beetle or parasitoids from this sort of thing - either one is interesting to me!

Not sure if you'll see these questions, but:
1 - The highly visible and extended legs on the coccinellid made me wonder if this was a larva that "froze" in this position rather than a pupa - wouldn't a pupa have the legs tightly apposed to the body?

2 - Would you recommend placing these images under the beetle family or the wasp family? Not sure which would be more helpful...

Thanks again!

… Ken Schneider, 3 September, 2008 - 9:37am

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My two cents...

I agree, this was a "pre-pupa" that didn't quite make it to pupating before the wasp got the better of it. I think it would make sense to put all these images under the wasp family, since they are a good illustration of evidence of a wasp parasitoid--plus there are already plenty of images of coccinellid larvae and pupae in the Guide.

… Charley Eiseman, 3 September, 2008 - 4:55pm

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Thanks, Charley!

Will move to wasp family page for now...

… Ken Schneider, 4 September, 2008 - 11:44am

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