ichneumonid wasps
(Cosmoconus spp.)
Overview • Description • Distribution • Taxonomy
Overview |
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Cosmoconus is a genus of parasitic ichneumonid wasps. It occurs in Europe, in the eastern half of the United States, and in adjacent Canadian provinces. There are about 28 species worldwide, at least 9 species, possibly 15, in North America north of Mexico, and at least 1 species in Minnesota. They are found in meadows, at forest edges, and at stream sides. Cosmoconus wasps are external parasites of sawfly larvae in the genera Rhogogaster and Tenthredo. The female deposits an egg on the upper surface of the larva. When the larva spins a cocoon, the egg immediately hatches and begins feeding on the outside of the larva. |
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Description |
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Cosmoconus wasps are medium sized to relatively large. The size is usually given in terms of the forewing length, which in the case of this genus is ⅛″ to ⅜″ (4.5 to 10 mm). The head is usually compressed in the back. The antennae have 28 to 35 segments (flagellomeres) beyond the scape and pedicel at the base. On most species there is a horn on the upper part of the face (frons) between the antennae sockets, and a groove that extends from the horn to the front simple eye (ocellus). The body is mostly black. The second, third, and fourth abdominal segments are usually red or yellow. The first segment of the abdomen is slender. On the female the ovipositor is short and may be straight or curved downward. The legs are mostly yellow except for the first and second segments (coxa and trochanter) of each leg, and on the hind legs the third segment (femur) and the tip of the fourth segment (tibia). The very small cell in the middle of the forewing (areolet) is rectangular. |
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Distribution |
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| 10/3/2022 | ||||
Taxonomy |
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Order |
Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies) | ||
Suborder |
Apocrita (narrow-waisted wasps, ants, and bees) | ||
Superfamily |
Ichneumonoidea (ichneumonid and braconid wasps) | ||
Family |
Ichneumonidae (ichneumonid wasps) | ||
Subfamily |
Tryphoninae | ||
Tribe |
Tryphonini | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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ichneumonid wasp (Cosmoconus arcticus) ichneumonid wasp (Cosmoconus arcuatus) ichneumonid wasp (Cosmoconus athrix) ichneumonid wasp (Cosmoconus biflavus) ichneumonid wasp (Cosmoconus canadensis) ichneumonid wasp (Cosmoconus petiolatus) ichneumonid wasp (Cosmoconus posticatus) ichneumonid wasp (Cosmoconus recurvus) ichneumonid wasp (Cosmoconus vallis) |
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Synonyms |
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Alpicosmos Otitoconus |
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Common Names |
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This genus has no common name. The common name of the family Ichneumonidae is Ichneumonid wasps, and it is applied here for convenience. |
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Glossary
Areolet
A very small cell in the middle of the widest part of the forewing of some wasps, especially ichneumonid wasps.
Coxa
The first segment of the leg of an insect, attaching the leg to the body, and connected to the trochanter. Plural: coxae.
Femur
On insects and arachnids, the third, largest, most robust segment of the leg, coming immediately before the tibia. On humans, the thigh bone.
Frons
The upper front part of an insect’s face, roughly corresponding to the forehead.
Ocellus
Simple eye; an eye with a single lens. Plural: ocelli.
Ovipositor
A tube-like organ near the end of the abdomen of many female insects, used to prepare a place for an egg and to place the egg.
Scape
In plants: An erect, leafless stalk growing from the rootstock and supporting a flower or a flower cluster. In insects: The basal segment of the antenna.
Tibia
The fourth segment of an insect leg, after the femur and before the tarsus (foot). The fifth segment of a spider leg or palp.
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Babette Kis |
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Cosmoconus spp. ichneumonoid wasp Cosmoconus spp. ichneumonoid wasp on Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI photo taken June 22, 2021. |
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Alfredo Colon |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Visitor Sightings |
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| Babette Kis 6/22/2021 |
Location: Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI Cosmoconus spp. ichneumonoid wasp on Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI photo taken June 22, 2021. |
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| Alfredo Colon 7/31/2018 |
Location: Woodbury, MN |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: 4/14/2019
Last Updated: