Latibulus

{{Short description|Genus of wasps}}

{{Italic title}}

{{Taxobox

| name = Latibulus argiolus

| image =

| image_caption = Pupa

| regnum = Animalia

| phylum = Arthropoda

| classis = Insecta

| ordo = Hymenoptera

| superfamilia = Ichneumonoidea

| familia = Ichneumonidae

| subfamilia = Cryptinae

| tribus = Cryptini

| subtribus = Sphecophagina

| genus = Latibulus

| genus_authority = Gistel, 1848

}}

Latibulus is a genus of wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. There are two species in Europe:{{cite web |url=https://fauna-eu.org/cdm_dataportal/taxon/adca7b0b-a1e9-4299-a3f0-66993ac87a55 |title=Latibulus Gistel, 1848 |author= |date= |work=Fauna Europaea |publisher=Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin |accessdate=23 March 2019}}

{{species list

| Latibulus argiolus | (Rossi, 1790)

| Latibulus lautus | (Tosquinet, 1896)

}}

Biology

Latibulus argiolus is a parasitoid which lies in wait in the near proximity of a Polistes paper wasp nest waiting for an opportunity for penetration and then, within a few seconds, lays an egg into a nest cell. The biology of the larva is unknown. There are two generations per year. The first emerges in the summer after pupation takes place in a yellowish cocoon within the cell; the second generation winters in a brown, resistant cocoon. The pupa of the second generation is able to break through the cell cover by making jerky movements. The pupa falls to the ground, looks for a recess by making rolling movements, and winters there.

References

{{Reflist}}

  • S. Makino, 1983: Biology of Latibulus argiolus (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae), a parasitoid of the paper wasp Polistes biglumis (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) [biology] Kontyu 51:426-434, 1983