Official name
Synonyms
Gelis bicolor [1]
Ichneumon bicolor
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CONTENTS
1. Distribution
2. Behaviour
3. Plant relations
4. Parasitic relations
5. Identification
1. DISTRIBUTION
The ichneumon wasp Gelis bicolor is a common wasp in the Netherlands [2].
2. BEHAVIOUR
2.1. ACTIVITY
The females can be found the whole year through and overwinter as adult [3].
2.2. DEVELOPMENT
The species develops in spider and is an idiobiontic ectoparasite [3]. Normally one wasp develops per eggsack [3] and the larva will eat the entire contents [4].
3. FOOD PLANTS
The adults wasps feed on nectar and honeydew [3]. Flower visits are limited to specific weather conditions, like during drizzle or muggy weather and is probably secondary to licking up honeydew and moist from leaves [3]. Possibly pollen grains stuck on the sticky surfaces of hairy leaves are eaten as well [3].
In literature the following plants and groups are cited in the context of licking up food and moisture:
| Birch family (Betulaceae) | – Corylus avellana (Common hazel) [3] – Alnus alnobetula (Green alder) [3] |
| Netle family (Urticaceae) | – Urtica dioica (Stinging nettle) [3] |
Garden species
In the garden the following plants are present:
| Birch family (Betulaceae) | – Corylus avellana (Common hazel) |
| Netle family (Urticaceae) | – Urtica dioica (Stinging nettle) |
4. PARASITIC RELATIONS
The species parasitizes the eggsacks of spiders as food for the larvae [3,4].
The following prey groups and species occurring in the Netherlands [1] are cited in literature:
| Spiders (Araneae) | Linyphiidae (Money spiders) Floronia – Floronia bucculenta [4] Mimetidae (Pirate spiders) Ero – Ero cf. furcata [4] |
5. IDENTIFICATION
Length: 2,2 – 4,0 mm
Genus
The genus Gelis can be recognized by the following characters:
1. 2nd and 3rd tergite fully separated, or only partially or unclearly merged [5]
2. 1st tergite with or without dorsal lateral carinae [5]
3. 1st tergite not or seldom apically striped [5]
4. If tergite 1 apically striped than laterotergite of 2nd abdominal segment separated [5] (Here not the case)
♀
HEAD
1. Head black [6]
2. Antennae with 20-22 segments [6]
3. Antennal segment 3 is 2,5-3,4x longer than wide (lateral view) [6]
3. Antennal segment 7 is 1,3-1,8x longer than wide (lateral view) [6]
4. Distance between hind ocelli ( OOL ) is about 0,7-1,0x the distance between the hind ocellus and the inner eye edge ( POL ) [6]
5. Clypeus under edge convex [6]
6. Genal groove deep [6]
7. Occipital carina connected with hypostomal carina at mandible base [6]
THORAX
1. Thorax and propodeum usually orange, in smaller specimen black to brown [6]
2. Mesonotum without clear medial longitudinal furrow [6]
3. Mesonotum about 0,8-1,1x longer than wide [6]
4. Scutellum not clearly limited, very short [6]
5. Length mesonotum = 0,8-1,5x length area anterior [6]
6. Slope rear mesonotum and propodeum unequal [6]
7. Propodeum about as high as mesonotum [6]
8. Transverse carina on middle propodeum clear, straight not arched [6]
9. Thigh (femur) hind leg 3,3-4,1x longer than high hoog (lateral view) [6]
ABDOMEN
1. Tergite 1 with dorsal lateral carinae, partly [6]
2. Abdomen from tergite 2 black [6]
3. Abdomen densely haired [6]
4. Ovipositor tip with fine to clear teeth ventrally
♂
References
1 Nederlands Soortenregister2 Waarneming.nl
3 SCHWARZ, M. Revision der westpaläarktischen Arten der Gattungen Gelis THUNBERG mit apteren Weibchen und Thaumatogelis SCHMIEDEKNECHT (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae). Teil 2.
4 Finch, Oliver-David. (2005). The parasitoid complex and parasitoid-induced mortality of spiders (Araneae) in a Central European woodland. Journal of Natural History - J NATUR HIST. 39. 2339-2354. 10.1080/00222930500101720.
5 SCHWARZ, Martin. Revision der westpaläarktischen Arten der Gattungen Gelis Thunberg mit apteren Weibchen und Thaumatogelis Schmiedeknecht (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae). Teil 1. na, 1995.
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