Heteropelma Explained

Heteropelma is a genus of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Ichneumonidae.^[1] Species in this genus are around 25 mm in length.^[2]

Reproduction

Heteropelma adults lay their eggs inside Lepidopteran larvae (i.e. caterpillars) by piercing them with their ovipositor. Heteropelma eggs consist of an equatorial disc and a caudal stalk, making them look a bit like the cartoon oil lamp from Aladdin. It's thought that the shape is adapted to attach the egg to the inside of the caterpillar's integument.^[3] Once the eggs hatch, the larvae consume the caterpillar from the inside. They emerge from the deceased caterpillar as adults.

Species

• Heteropelma amictum
• Heteropelma fulvitarse
• Heteropelma megarthrum
• Heteropelma signatum
• Heteropelma szepligetii

Notes and References

1. Web site: Heteropelma Wesmael, 1849 . Fauna Europaea . 23 February 2021.
2. Gauld . I. D. . Ian D. Gauld . 1976 . THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE ANOMALONINAE HYMENOPTERA ICHNEUMONIDAE . Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology . 33 . 1–135.
3. Book: Tothill, John D. . The natural control of the fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea Drury) in Canada : together with an account of its several parasites . 1922 . F.A. Acland, King's Printer . Ottawa.