Tobacco Hornworm (parasitoid and hyperparasite)

Moved

Identified by Dr. Michael Schauff. The image doesn't suffice for identifying the genus, but it isn't elongate enough to be Horismenus, so he thinks it is likely Pediobius.

Moved from Eulophidae.

… Bob Carlson, 9 September, 2013 - 7:26pm

Moved

Moved from Chalcid Wasps.

… Charley Eiseman, 5 August, 2009 - 5:00pm

Eulophidae…

Confirming details are missing, but the dark metallic coloration, wing venation, and the fact that the vast majority of Eulophids are primary parasitoids of Lepidoptera suggest this placement. This is not a braconid or a hyperparasitoid.

See reference here.

… Ross Hill, 5 August, 2009 - 11:41am

Hmmm

The claim that this is not a hyperparasitoid seems odd given that four species species of eulophids, two of Horismenus and twoo of Pediobius, are recorded as parasitoids of Cotesia congregata.

… Bob Carlson, 9 September, 2013 - 3:35pm

Maybe the same species

as this one

It must be a hyperparasitoid, because these are unquestionably Cotesia (Braconidae) cocoons. Or are you saying it parasitized the caterpillar along with the braconids? I did a quick Google search and found an example of a eulophid hyperparasitoid here; South African, yes, but if it's possible there, perhaps it's possible here?

… Charley Eiseman, 5 August, 2009 - 5:00pm

Another reference

This one is very interesting. Hyperparasitoid of Cotesia glomerata in Virginia.

… Beatriz Moisset, 5 August, 2009 - 5:27pm

Aha!

Very nice. I wonder if Tetrastichus (Aprostocetus) galactopus also parasitizes Cotesia congregata, the species that made these cocoons. Since the host braconid is well studied, the Catalogue of Hymenoptera would probably tell us. That's available online at archive.org, but I don't have time to look into it at the moment.

… Charley Eiseman, 5 August, 2009 - 5:37pm

Moved

Moved from Cotesia congregata.

… Beatriz Moisset, 3 March, 2008 - 10:31am

Moved

Moved from Carolina Sphinx.

… Beatriz Moisset, 21 July, 2007 - 5:22pm

Cotesia

I found some info on this parasitic wasp at the U. of Kentucky site. I am becoming convinced that it is Cotesia congregata of the Microgastrinae subfamily.

… Beatriz Moisset, 21 July, 2007 - 4:44pm

Chalcidoid

I'm pretty sure that's a chalcidoid wasp, which is likely a hyperparasitoid of the braconid. Here is a photo of Cotesia congregata.

… Charley Eiseman, 2 March, 2008 - 9:01pm

Oops!

So I was too hasty placing it in Cotesia?
This is even more interesting. What about the other images of presumably Cotesia? I hope that they are right.

… Beatriz Moisset, 3 March, 2008 - 10:30am

Most likely correct---

I'm not an expert, but the photo you linked to certainly looks like a braconid to me.

… Charley Eiseman, 3 March, 2008 - 10:37am