Cratichneumon culex is a species of the parasitic wasp of the family Ichneumonidae. The species was first described by Müller in 1776." Cratichneumon culex (Müller, 1776) ". BioLib.cz. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
Description
Cratichneumon culex can reach a length of (excluding antennae).Les insectes As usual in Incheumonidae these solitary parasitic wasps have an elongated abdomen and very long antennae. The body is black, while the legs are reddish or reddish with white markings and the antennae are partially white.
Distribution and habitat This species can be found in most of Europe."Cratichneumon culex (Muller, 1776)". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved October 18, 2019. It lives in hedge rows.
Biology This species is a pupal parasitoid. Adults parasite the pupae of the winter moth Operophtera brumata. Other recorded hosts are Semiothisa species and Bupalus piniarius (Geometridae), Tethea or (Drepanidae), Notodonta dromedarius (Notodontidae), Dasychira pudibunda (Lymantridae) and Panolis flammea (Noctuidae).Aliyev, Azer Abulfaz Oghlu "Fauna of the Subfamily Ichneumoninae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) of Azerbaijan With New Records" These wasps are mainly active in the late summer. They search for their prey in the soil. The females lay eggs into pupae with the ovipositor.Savill, Peter; Perrins, Christopher; Kirby, Keith & Fishers, Nigel Biological Control: Proceedings of an AAAS Symposium on Biological ControlHausmann, Axel & Viidalepp, Jaan Larentinae I
References
External links Nature Images Mijn tuin Barry Fotopage