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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » "Parasitica" - Parasitoid Wasps » Proctotrupoidea » Pelecinid Wasps (Pelecinidae)

Family Pelecinidae - Pelecinid Wasps

Classification · Numbers · Identification · Range · Season · Food · Internet References · Works Cited
Unknown insect - Pelecinus polyturator - female Unknown Hymenoptera - Pelecinus polyturator - female American Pelecinid - Pelecinus polyturator - male wasp - Pelecinus polyturator - female Pennsylvania Wasp - Pelecinus polyturator - female Pelecinus polyturator - female Unknown wasp - Pelecinus polyturator Pelecinus polyturator - 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 Proctotrupoidea
Family Pelecinidae (Pelecinid Wasps)
Numbers
One North American genus with only one species: Pelecinus polyturator Drury 1773 (Ichneumon) (1). Worldwide, there is only one extant genus, Pelecinus, with three recognized species (2):
Pelecinus polyturator (North America, Central America, South America)
Pelecinus thoracicus (western Mexico)
Pelecinus dichrous (South America)
The family was much more diverse during the Mesozoic era (Beetles in the Bush).
Identification
Both Sexes: Antennal sockets separated from dorsal clypeus margin. Forewing with vein R forked. Wing veins reduced. Hind wings small.
Female: long, curled abdomen is distinct.
Range
Eastern. ND to TX and east.
Ranges south to central Argentina.
Season
Late Summer/Early Fall.
Food
Prey on beetle grubs.
Internet References
Beetles in the Bush--An elegant living fossil…
Works Cited
1.American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico
Ross H. Arnett. 2000. CRC Press.
2.Revision of the proctotrupoid genus Pelecinus Latreille (Hymenoptera: Pelecinidae).
Contributed by Cotinis on 10 September, 2004 - 9:10pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, PaleoJon, Nathaniel Green
Last updated 22 July, 2022 - 12:39pm

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