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Subfamily Ophioninae - Short-tailed Ichneumonid Wasps

Unknown Ichneumon - Thyreodon atricolor Wasp-like insect - Ophion ichneumonid 2 - Thyreodon atricolor short-tailed ichneumon - Ophion - male Ichneumon - Ophion slossonae Black and orange wasp with long abdomen - Thyreodon fernaldi Unknown Bug - Ophion Ophion  - Ophion
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 Ichneumonoidea (Braconid and Ichneumonid Wasps)
Family Ichneumonidae (Ichneumonid Wasps)
Subfamily Ophioninae (Short-tailed Ichneumonid Wasps)
Explanation of Names
Ophioninae = from the Greek Ὀφίων (Ophion), the first of the Titans to rule the world, + -inae (taxonomic subfamily suffix)
short-tailed = in reference to the short, inconspicuous ovipositors of the females in contrast to the prominent, often long ovipositors found in most other subfamilies. This trait is not, however, unique to this subfamily. Other prominent families include Diplazontinae, Eucerotinae, Ichneumoninae, and Metopiinae.
Numbers
at least 54 recognized spp. (+ ~33 undescribed) in 7 genera north of Mexico; 32 genera worldwide arranged into 5 genus-groups worldwide(1)(2)(3)

Overview of our fauna
Subfamily Ophioninae
Tribe Enicospilini
Genus Enicospilus: 23 spp.
Tribe Ophionini
Genus Ophion: 17 spp. (+ ~33 undescribed)
Tribe Thyreodonini
Genus Eremotylus: 5 spp.
Genus Rhynchophion: 1 (2?) spp.
Genus Thyreodon: 6 spp.
Tribe incertae sedis
Genus Simophion: 1 sp.
Genus Trophophion: 1 sp.
Size
6-29 mm
Identification
The following characters will identify most Ophioninae (except for a few Eremotylus): Cell 3Cu of fore wing with adventitious vein originating at 2/1A, and parallel to wing margin. Cell 1M+1R1 of fore wing often with area below stigma lacking setae (fenestra) and with sclerotized inclusions. Ocelli usually large, with lateral ocelli close to or contiguous with eyes. Abdomen laterally compressed, often with a rounded "knob" between the first and second segments. Ovipositor short, barely extending beyond metasomal apex (with rare exceptions). Tarsal claws usually densely pectinate. Body color usually pale brownish-orange, rarely black or red.(4)

Comparison of Wing Venation

Enicospilus: forewing r-rs vein sinuous; ramellus always absent; cell 2M short; discosubmarginal cells often with sclerite inclusions


Eremotylus: forewing r-rs vein basally thickened and curved; ramellus absent or nearly so


Ophion: forewing r-rs vein straight and not thickened; ramellus usually present


Rhynchophion: pterostigma narrowed to evanescent; Rs vein centrally straight with a distinct angle with 3rs-m; wings often very brightly pigmented


Simophion: forewing r-rs vein basally thickened and curved; ramellus absent; Rs vein centrally dipped


Thyreodon: pterostigma narrowed to evanescent; r-rs vein sinuous; Rs vein centrally straight with a distinct angle with 3rs-m; wings usually very darkly pigmented throughout


Trophophion: forewing r-rs vein basally thickened and curved; ramellus absent
Range
worldwide(1)
Habitat
Wide range of habitats. Most species are crepuscular or nocturnal, some diurnal. They are known to come to lights.
Food
Solitary koinobiont endoparasitoids of the larvae of other holometabolous insects, mostly Lepidoptera, although a Nearctic species of Ophion is known to parasitize a beetle larva(5); the most usual hosts are moth larvae that feed exposed on vegetation, especially members of Noctuidae, Lasiocampidae, Lymantriidae, Saturniidae, Geometridae, Arctiidae, and Sphingidae.(6)
Life Cycle
summarized in(6)
Remarks
Print References
Hooker, Charles W. (1912). The Ichneumom flies of America belonging to the tribe Ophionini. Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 38:1-176. (Full Text)(7)