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Order Hymenoptera
- This page contains pictures and information about the Cuckoo Wasps that we
found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
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- There are many Cuckoo Wasp species and they look very similar. Usually they are metallic
blue or green in colour and are coarsely sculptured. Most species are external parasites of other wasp
larvae. Females lay eggs in nest of other wasps (Eumeninae
of Vespidae and Sphecidae) while the
nest host collect food for larvae. Cuckoo Wasp larvae hatch and feed on the
food or the host larvae.
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- The adult Cuckoo Wasp's back is well armored and with abdomen concave
beneath. When disturbed, it curl up into a ball. This is a defense behavior
against the attack by angry nest host.
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- Cuckoo Wasps are common in Brisbane suburban. They are usually seen flying
slowly looking for wasp nest.
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- Large Cuckoo Wasp
 - Stilbum cyanurum, subfamily Chrysidinae, body length 20mm
- The wasp in the above photos was collected by
our friend Ben inside his house in Brisbane during mid summer. We set it free
after we took those photos. Please check this page
for more information.
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- Small Cuckoo Wasp 1
 - ? Chrysis sp., body length 10mm
- The small Cuckoo Wasp is commonly found on large gum tree trunks,
especially those holes on tree trunk. Please check this page
for more information.
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- Reference:
- 1. Insects
of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University
Press, 2nd Edition 1991, pp 973.
- 2. A
field guide to insects in Australia - By Paul Zborowski and Ross
Storey, Reed New Holland, 1996, p187.
- 3. Northern
Territory Insects, A Comprehensive Guide CD - Graham Brown, 2009.
[ Up ] [ MEGALYRIDAE ] [ EVANIIDAE ] [ GASTERUPTIIDAE ] [ CHALCIDIDAE ] [ TORYMIDAE ] [ PTEROMALIDAE ] [ EUPELMIDAE ] [ CHRYSIDIDAE ] [ Other Parasitic Wasp ]
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