Ichneumon xanthorius♀︎♂︎

Last update: 13 February 2022


Uncommon

SPECIES: Ichneumon xanthorius
GENUS ICHNEUMON
FAMILY ICHNEUMONIDAE (Ichneumon wasps)



OBSERVATION:
2021-V-232020-V-302020-IV-202020-IV-122020-IV-082019-VI-232019-VI-212019-VI-16

YEARS:
201920202021

MONTHS:
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec


Ichneumon xanthorius ♂︎

1. DISTRIBUTION

Ichneumon xanthorius [1,2,3,4,5] is an uncommon wasp that occurs throughout the Netherlands [2].

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 [2].

2.2. DEVELOPMENT

The species overwinters as larva and has possibly more generations per year [6]. The larvae pupate in the ground in May [6].

Development take on average 30 days for females and 26 days for males [6].

 

3. PARASITIC RELATIONS

I. xanthorius is a polyphagous [6] endoparasitoïd on moths from the Noctuidae family [6], especially on cocoons in the ground, on the following species occurring in the Netherlands [7]:

Owlet moths
(NOCTUIDAE)
Noctua comes [6]
Noctua fimbriata [6]
Xestia baja [6]
Xestia ditrapezium [6]
Xestia stigmatica (syn. X. rhomboidae [8]) [6]
Xestia trianglum [6]

The following hosts have been observed in the garden:

Owlet moths
(NOCTUIDAE)
Lesser yellow underwing (Noctua comes) [6]

 

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 [4] ).

The characteristics of I. xanthorius are [4]:

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

Ichneumon xanthorius ♀︎, Tergites: 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

References

1 Nederlands Soortenregister

2 BROAD, Gavin. Identification key to the subfamilies of Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera). Natural History Museum, London, 2011.

3 PERKINS, James F. Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea, Ichneumonidae, key to subfamilies and Ichneumoninae.

4 PERKINS, John Frederick. Hymenoptera, Ichneumonoidea: Ichneumonidae I.[and] Ichneumoninae II, Alomyinae, Agriotypinae and Lycorininae.

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

6 HINZ, Rolf; HORSTMANN, Klaus. Über Wirtsbeziehungen europäischer Ichneumon-Arten.

7 Vlinderstichting.nl, "Vlinders", De Vlinderstichting

8 www.lepiforum.de

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