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)
-Infraorder Proctotrupomorpha
-Chalcidoid Wasps (Superfamily Chalcidoidea)
-Chalcidid Wasps (Family Chalcididae)
-Subfamily Chalcidinae
-Tribe Chalcidini
-Genus Conura
Wasps in the genus Conura are parasitoid wasps, which means their larvae develop inside or on the body of other insects (typically other arthropods), ultimately killing the host. The hosts of Conura species are typically other insects, especially beetles and flies.
Conura Chalcidoid Wasps
Conura (Genus)
Description
• Conura is a large genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Chalcididae. Members are generally small to medium-sized, often with a dark body marked with yellow, orange, or reddish-brown patterns. They typically have enlarged hind femora, sometimes bearing prominent teeth, and relatively strong hind legs. Females lay their eggs in or on the immature stages of other insects.
Range
• Species of Conura occur widely throughout the Americas, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. It is native to Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.
Habitat
• These wasps inhabit tropical dry forests, woodland edges, scrubland, grasslands, and agricultural areas. Adults may be found resting on vegetation or searching for suitable insect hosts among leaves, stems, and other plant structures.
Diet
• Adults may feed on nectar and other sugary plant secretions. Their larvae develop as parasitoids of other insects, including the immature stages of butterflies, moths, flies, and beetles, depending on the species.