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
-Superfamily Diaprioidea
-Family Diapriidae
-Subfamily Diapriinae
-Tribe Diapriini
These wasps are minute, typically 2–4 mm in length, and rarely exceed 8 mm. They often exhibit significant sexual dimorphism, with males and females frequently looking different enough to be mistaken for separate species. Diapriini larvae are internal parasitoids, developing inside the larvae or pupae of their hosts. Their primary hosts are the larvae and pupae of flies (Diptera), including fruit flies, hoverflies, and flesh flies.
Diapriini Narrow-waisted Wasps
Diapriini (Tribe)
Description
• Diapriini is a tribe of parasitoid wasps in the family Diapriidae. Members are generally small, often dark brown or black, with compact bodies, elbowed antennae, and relatively smooth or shiny exoskeletons. Many species are inconspicuous and can be difficult to identify without close examination. They are important natural enemies of other insects.
Range
• Members of Diapriini occur worldwide, in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions. It is native to Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.
Habitat
• These wasps inhabit a variety of environments, including forests, tropical scrub, grasslands, and gardens. Many are found in leaf litter, soil, decaying organic matter, or other moist microhabitats where their host insects develop.
Diet
• Adults may feed on nectar, honeydew, and other sugary substances. Their larvae are parasitoids of other insects, particularly flies and other small arthropods, with host preferences varying among species.