Ichneumon xanthorius♀︎♂︎

Last update: 23 November 2024


Uncommon

Species Ichneumon xanthorius
Genus ICHNEUMON
Family ICHNEUMONIDAE (Ichneumon wasps)



Ecological role Idiobiont ectoparasitoid + pollinator

Activity
janfebmaraprmayjunjulaugsepoctnovdec

Observations
2021-V-232020-V-302020-IV-202020-IV-122020-IV-082019-VI-232019-VI-212019-VI-16
Months
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Years
201920202021




Last changes:
Section 'Females' in '4. Identification' added


Ichneumon xanthorius ♂︎

1. DISTRIBUTION

Ichneumon xanthorius [Soortenregister],[Broad 2011],[Perkins 1959],[Perkins 1960] is an uncommon wasp that occurs throughout the Netherlands [Broad 2011].

In some litereature the species is referenced with its old name Amblyteles equitatorius.

 

2. BEHAVIOUR

2.1. ACTIVITY

The species is active from April to August with a peak for males in June and July, and for the females in April and May [Broad 2011].

2.2. DEVELOPMENT

The species overwinters as larva and has possibly more generations per year [Hinz & Horstmann 2007]. The larvae pupate in the ground in May [Hinz & Horstmann 2007].

Development take on average 30 days for females and 26 days for males [Hinz & Horstmann 2007].

 

3. PARASITIC RELATIONS

I. xanthorius is a polyphagous [Hinz & Horstmann 2007] endoparasitoïd on moths from the Noctuidae family [Hinz & Horstmann 2007], especially on cocoons in the ground, on the following species occurring in the Netherlands [Vlinderstichting.nl]:

Owlet moths
(NOCTUIDAE)
Noctua comes [Hinz & Horstmann 2007]
Noctua fimbriata [Hinz & Horstmann 2007]
Xestia baja [Hinz & Horstmann 2007]
Xestia ditrapezium [Hinz & Horstmann 2007]
Xestia stigmatica (syn. X. rhomboidae) [Hinz & Horstmann 2007]
Xestia trianglum [Hinz & Horstmann 2007]

The following hosts have been observed in the garden:

Owlet moths
(NOCTUIDAE)
Lesser yellow underwing (Noctua comes) [Hinz & Horstmann 2007]

 

4. IDENTIFICATION

It is a large wasp with a length of 15mm
(different internet sites provide a length of 15mm for males and females. The length of the female is specified as 13 – 14 mm in the Perkins key [Perkins 1960] ).

The characteristics of I. xanthorius are [Perkins 1960]:

Females

Ichneumon xanthorius ♀︎

1. Mandible with one tooth
2. Thyridia short as very narrow transverse band
3. Gastrocoelus quite large, width at least as wide as distance between gastrocoeli

4. Terga 5, 6 and 7 with yellow marks
5. Terga 1 to 4 with wide yellow band apically

Ichneumon xanthorius ♀︎, Terga: 1-4 with broad yellow band, 5-7 with yellow

7. Coxa hindleg with yellow spot on top

Ichneumon xanthorius ♀︎, coxa hindleg with yellow spot on top

8. Thigh (femur) hindleg black

Ichneumon xanthorius ♀︎, thigh (femur) hindleg black

9. Head with temples strongly narrowing behind eyes

Males

Ichneumon xanthorius ♂︎

1. Narrow species

2. Postpetiole, upper part of 1st tergite, yellow

Ichneumon xanthorius ♂︎, 1st tergite with upper edge (postpetiole) yellow

3. Hind leg coxa with yellow spot dorsally
4, Hind leg coxa large [5]

Ichneumon xanthorius ♂︎, Coxa hind leg large with yellow spot dorsally

5. Femur, hind leg yellow with lower halve black

Ichneumon xanthorius ♂︎, Femur hind leg yellow with lower halve black

6. Tibia, hind leg black lower edge

Ichneumon xanthorius ♂︎, Tibia hind leg geel with black lower edge

7. Clypeus truncated

Ichneumon xanthorius ♂︎, clypeus met stome rand

Literature

Ahw.me Albert de Wilde, Insecten fotosite ahw.me, Wespen

Broad 2011 Broad, G., 2011. Identification key to the subfamilies of Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera). Biological Record Centre, Wallinford.

Hinz & Horstmann 2007 Hinz, R., & Horstmann, K., 2007. Über Wirtsbeziehungen Europäischer Ichneumon-Arten. On the Host Relationships of European Species of Ichneumon Linnaeus (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Ichneumoninae). Spinxiana, 30(1), 39-63.

Perkins 1959 Perkins, J. F., 1959. Hymenoptera, Ichneumonoidea, Ichneumonidae: Key to Subfamilies and Ichneumoninae-I. Royal Entomological Society.

Perkins 1960 Perkins, J. F., 1960. Hymenoptera, Ichneumonoidea: Ichneumonidae I.[and] Ichneumoninae II, Alomyinae, Agriotypinae and Lycorininae. Royal Entomological Society.

Soortenregister Nederlands Soortenregister

Vlinderstichting.nl Vlinderstichting.nl, "Vlinders", De Vlinderstichting

Citation

Krischan, O.R., 2025. Ichneumon xanthorius. Kerfdier, www.kerfdier.nl. Accessed on [date month year].



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