Mesoleptus Explained

Mesoleptus is a genus of parasitic wasp in the family Ichneumonidae with a wide geographic distribution.^[1]

The antennae of its members are typically long, slender, and usually curved. The head is short and narrow with oval, slightly protruding eyes. The thorax is somewhat humped, with small wings.^[2] The cellules of the wings, which are small enclosed areas between veins, are either very small or entirely absent.^[3] It is characterized by the narrowed abdomen referred to as a petiole.^[4] Abdomen shape is usually oblong and smooth. The legs are slender and long, although the hindmost leg can be thickened.

In 2008, Dr. Chris Williams at the National University of Ireland, Galway announced the discovery of what he believed to be a new species of Mesoleptus, for which he suggested the name Mesoleptus hibernica (for the ancient Latin name for Ireland) in an interview.^[5] However, the species has yet to be confirmed or published, and is therefore not a valid species name.^[6]

Selected species

• Mesoleptus borealis (Davis, 1898)
• Mesoleptus congener (Förster, 1876)
• Mesoleptus davisii (Dalla Torre, 1898)
• Mesoleptus declivus (Provancher, 1886)
• Mesoleptus devotus (Förster, 1876)
• Mesoleptus distinctus (Förster, 1876)
• Mesoleptus glaucus (Davis, 1898)
• Mesoleptus hispanicus Jussila et al. 2010
• Mesoleptus ignotus (Cresson, 1868)
• Mesoleptus incessor (Haliday)
• Mesoleptus ithacae (Ashmead, 1896)
• Mesoleptus laevigatus (Gravenhorst, 1837)
• Mesoleptus laticinctus (Walker, 1874)
• Mesoleptus pronus (Förster, 1876)
• Mesoleptus sawoniewiczi Jussila et al. 2010
• Mesoleptus solitarius (Förster, 1876)
• Mesoleptus tobiasi Jonaitis
• Mesoleptus tunisiensis Jussila et al. 2010
• Mesoleptus vigilatorius (Förster, 1876)

Notes and References

1. Book: Biologia Centrali-Americana. Cameron. Peter. 1883–1900. Godman. Frederick Ducane. Insecta: Hymenoptera, vol. 1. Families. 281. en. Salvin. Osbert. Published for the editors by R. H. Porter].
2. Book: Stephens, James Francis. Illustrations of British Entomology: Or, A Synopsis of Indigenous Insects; Containing Their Generic and Specific Distinctions; with an Account of Their Metamorphoses, Times of Appearance, Localities, Food, and Economy, as Far as Practicable. 1835. Baldwin and Cradock. 211–212. en.
3. Book: A Dictionary of Entomology. 2011. CABI. 9781845935429. 272. en.
4. Book: Cresson, Ezra Townsend. Synopsis of the Families and Genera of the Hymenoptera of America, North of Mexico: Together with a Catalogue of the Described Species, and Bibliography. 1887. P.C. Stockhausen, printer. 40. en.
5. News: New parasite wasp species found. 2008-08-28. BBC News. 2018-03-23. en-GB.
6. Jussila. Reijo. Sääksjärvi. Ilari E.. Bordera. Santiago. 2010. Revision of the western Palaearctic Mesoleptus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). Annales de la Société Entomologique de France. 46. 3–4. 499–518. 10.1080/00379271.2010.10697687. 10045/23584. 84679601. free.