More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
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Wasps of Zihuatanejo
ORDER HYMENOPTERA
-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)
-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)
-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)
-Ants, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies (Order Hymenoptera)
-Narrow-waisted Wasps, Ants, and Bees (Suborder Apocrita)
-Ichneumonid and Braconid Wasps (Superfamily Ichneumonoidea)
-Ichneumonid Wasps (Family Ichneumonidae)
Parasitoid wasps within the family Ichneumonidae, which is one of the largest families of parasitoid wasps. Known for their parasitic behavior, where the female wasps lay their eggs on or inside the bodies of other insects. They generally have a slender, elongated body shape, Their antennae are typically long and slender, often as long or longer than the body, and they use these antennae for sensory purposes, such as detecting host chemicals or vibrations.
Ichneumonid Wasps
Ichneumonidae (Family)
Description
• Ichneumonidae is a large and diverse family of parasitoid wasps, with thousands of species worldwide. Members typically have slender bodies, long antennae, two pairs of membranous wings, and, in many females, a conspicuous ovipositor used to lay eggs in or on host insects. Their colours range from black and brown to reddish, yellow, and metallic shades. They play an important role in regulating insect populations.
Range
• Ichneumonid wasps occur worldwide, in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions. The family is represented in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.
Habitat
• These wasps inhabit a wide range of environments, including tropical dry forests, scrubland, grasslands, gardens, and woodland edges. Adults are often found on vegetation or flowers while searching for food or suitable hosts.
Diet
• Adults commonly feed on nectar, honeydew, and other sugary plant secretions. Their larvae are parasitoids of other insects and, in some cases, spiders. Hosts include caterpillars, beetle larvae, and other immature insects; the developing wasps usually kill their hosts as they mature.