| Hybrizon | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Ichneumonidae |
| Subfamily: | Hybrizontinae |
| Genus: | Hybrizon |
Hybrizon is the genus in the subfamily Hybrizontinae of ichneumonid parasitoid wasps. The subfamily was previously called Paxylommatinae, and has in the past been considered part Braconidae, or a separate family altogether.
Description and distribution
Hybrizon lacks the 2m-cu crossvein present in most other ichneumonids. It is a small and slender wasp with short palpi and fused 2nd and 3rd metasomal segments.
This genus has a holarctic distribution.
Biology
Hybrizon is unusual in that it is an endoparasitoid of ants. Female wasps oviposit into larval ants while they are being transported outside of the nest by worker ants. Oviposition is carried out very quickly, in less than one second. Immature Hybrizon pupate within the ant nest without spinning a cocoon.
References
- ^ van Achterberg, C. (1976). "A preliminary key to the subfamilies of the Braconidae (Hymenoptera)". Tijdschrift voor Entomologie. 119: 33–78.
- Durán, José María; van Achterberg, Kees (2011-08-26). "Oviposition behaviour of four ant parasitoids (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae, Neoneurini and Ichneumonidae, Hybrizontinae), with the description of three new European species". ZooKeys (125): 59–106. Bibcode:2011ZooK..125U..59V. doi:10.3897/zookeys.125.1754. ISSN 1313-2970. PMC 3185369. PMID 21998538.