Gelis bicolor♀︎

Last update: 30 November 2024


Common

Species Gelis bicolor
Genus GELIS
Family ICHNEUMONIDAE (Ichneumon wasps)



Ecological role Idiobiont ectoparasitoid
Activity
janfebmaraprmayjunjulaugsepoctnovdec

Observations
2021-II-202021-II-152021-II-102021-II-09
Months
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Years
2021


Official name

Synonyms

Gelis bicolor [Soortenregister]

Ichneumon bicolor

zie meer op: www.gbif.org

Gelis bicolor ♀︎

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 [Waarneming.nl].

2. BEHAVIOUR

2.1. ACTIVITY

The females can be found the whole year through and overwinter as adult [Schwarz 1998].

2.2. DEVELOPMENT

The species develops in spider and is an idiobiontic ectoparasitoid [Schwarz 1998]. Normally one wasp develops per eggsack [Schwarz 1998] and the larva will eat the entire contents [Finch 2005].

3. FOOD PLANTS

The adults wasps feed on nectar and honeydew [Schwarz 1998]. 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 [Schwarz 1998]. Possibly pollen grains stuck on the sticky surfaces of hairy leaves are eaten as well [Schwarz 1998].

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) [Schwarz 1998]
Alnus alnobetula (Green alder) [Schwarz 1998]
Netle family
(Urticaceae)
Urtica dioica (Stinging nettle) [Schwarz 1998]
Table 3-1: Food plants in the Netherlands

4. PARASITIC RELATIONS

The species parasitizes the eggsacks of spiders as food for the larvae [Schwarz 1998],[Finch 2005].
The following prey groups and species occurring in the Netherlands [Soortenregister] are cited in literature:

Spiders
(Araneae)
Dictynidae (Mesh-webbed spiders)
Dictyna
Dictyna sp. [Schwarz & Shaw 1999]

Linyphiidae (Money spiders)
Floronia
Floronia bucculenta [Finch 2005]

Mimetidae (Pirate spiders)
Ero
Ero cf. furcata [Finch 2005]

Theridiidae (Comb-footed spiders)
Paidiscura
– Kleine boskogelspin (Paidiscura pallens) [Schwarz & Shaw 1999]
Table 5-1: Parasitic species in the Netherlands

Parasitic species outside the Netherlands:



Table 5-2: Parasitic species outside the Netherlands

5. IDENTIFICATION

Length: 2,2 – 4,0 mm

Females are apterous [Finch 2005].
Males are brachypterous or macropterous [Finch 2005].

Genus

The genus Gelis can be recognized by the following characters:

1.  Abdomen: terga 2 and 3 fully separated, or only partially or unclearly merged [Schwarz 1995]

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, Gelis: tergites 2 and 3 fully separated

2. Abdomen: tergum 1 with or without dorsal lateral carinae [Schwarz 1995]

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, Gelis: tergum 1 with dorsal lateral carinae

3. Abdomen: tergum 1 not or seldom apically striped [Schwarz 1995]

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, Gelis: tergum 1 apically not striped

4. Abdomen: If tergite 1 apically striped than laterotergite of 2nd abdominal segment separated [Schwarz 1995] (Here not the case)

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, Gelis: laterotergite abdominalsegment 2 not separated from tergite
Gelis bicolor ♀︎, Gelis: laterotergite abdominalsegment 2 not separated from tergite


Gelis bicolor ♀︎
Gelis bicolor ♀︎
Gelis bicolor ♀︎
Gelis bicolor ♀︎
Gelis bicolor ♀︎, propodeum
Gelis bicolor ♀︎, ovipositor sheaths
Gelis bicolor ♀︎, ovipositor sheaths
Gelis bicolor ♀︎, ovipositor sheaths

HEAD

1. Head black [Schwarz 2002]
2. Antenna: with 20-22 segments [Schwarz 2002]

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, antennae with 20-22 segments

3. Antenna: segment 3 is 2,5-3,4x longer than wide (lateral view) [Schwarz 2002]

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, antennal segment 3 is 2,5-3,4x longer (l) than wide (b) (lateral view) (here ±3x)

3. Antenna: segment 7 is 1,3-1,8x longer than wide (lateral view) [Schwarz 2002]

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, antennal segment 7 is 1,3-1,8x longer (l) than wide (b) (lateral view) (here ±1,8x)

4. Ocelli: distance between hind ocelli ( OOL ) is about 0,7-1,0x the distance between the hind ocellus and the inner eye edge ( POL ) [Schwarz 2002]

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, distance between hind ocelli (pol) is 0,7-1,0x distance between hind ocellus and inner eye edge (ool)

5. Clypeus: apical edge convex [Schwarz 2002]

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, lower edge clypeus convex

6. Gena: genal groove deep [Schwarz 2002]

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, genal groove deep

7. Occipital carina: connected with hypostomal carina at mandible base [Schwarz 2002]

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, Occipital carina connected with hypostomal carina at mandible base

THORAX

1. Thorax and propodeum usually orange, in smaller specimen black to brown [Schwarz 2002]

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, thorax and propodeum brown to black

2. Mesonotum: without clear medial longitudinal furrow [Schwarz 2002]

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, mesonotum seldom with medial longitudinal furrow

3. Mesonotum: about 0,8-1,1x longer than wide [Schwarz 2002]

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, mesonotum length (l) is 0,8-1,1x width (b)

4. Scutellum: not clearly limited, very short [Schwarz 2002]

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, scutellum not clearly limited, very short

5. Mesonotum: length = 0,8-1,5x length area anterior [Schwarz 2002]

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, length mesonotum (lm) 0,8-1,5x length area anterior (la)

6. Slope rear mesonotum and propodeum unequal [Schwarz 2002]
7. Propodeum about as high as mesonotum [Schwarz 2002]

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, slope mesonotum and propodeum rear unequal

8. Propodeum: transverse carina on middle clear, straight not arched [Schwarz 2002]

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, transverse carina propodeum in middle clear and straight

9. Hind leg: thigh (femur) 3,3-4,1x longer than high hoog (lateral view) [Schwarz 2002]

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, femur 3 length ±3,3-4,1x width (here ±3,8x) (lateral view)

ABDOMEN

1. Tergum 1: with dorsal lateral carinae, partly [Schwarz 2002]

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, tergite 1 with dorsal lateral carinae

2. Abdomen: from tergum 2 black [Schwarz 2002]
3. Abdomen: densely haired [Schwarz 2002]

Gelis bicolor ♀︎, abdomen black from tergum 2

4. Ovipositor: tip with fine to clear teeth ventrally [Schwarz 2002]




Literature

Finch 2005 Finch, O. D., 2005. The parasitoid complex and parasitoid‐induced mortality of spiders (Araneae) in a Central European woodland. Journal of Natural History, 39(25), 2339-2354.

Schwarz 1995 Schwarz M., 1995. Revision der westpaläarktischen Arten der Gattung Gelis THUNBERG mit apteren Weibchen und Thaumatogelis SCHIEDEKNECHT (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae). Teil 1. – Linzer biologische Beiträge – 0027_1: 5 - 105.

Schwarz 1998 Schwarz M., 1998. Revision der westpaläarktischen Arten der Gattungen Gelis THUNBERG mit apteren Weibchen und Thaumatogelis SCHMIEDEKNECHT (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae). Teil 2. – Linzer biologische Beiträge – 0030_2: 629 - 704.

Schwarz 2002 Schwarz M., 2002. Revision der westpaläarktischen Arten der Gattungen Gelis THUNBERG mit apteren Weibchen und Thaumatogelis SCHWARZ (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae). Teil 3 – Linzer biologische Beiträge – 0034_2: 1293 - 1392.

Schwarz & Shaw 1999 Schwarz M. & Shaw M., 1999. Western Palaearctic Cryptinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) in the National Museums of Scotland, with nomenclatural changes, taxonomic notes, rearing records and special reference to the British check list. Part 2. Genus Gelis THUNBERG (Phygadeuontini: Gelina). – Entomologist's Gazette – 50(2): 117 - 142.

Soortenregister Nederlands Soortenregister

Waarneming.nl Waarneming.nl

Citation

Krischan, O.R., 2025. Gelis bicolor. Kerfdier, www.kerfdier.nl. Accessed on 21 June 2025.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *