Orchid Dupe Wasp 
 
 

 

Two-toned Caterpillar Parasite Wasp - Heteropelma scaposum

Family ICHNEUMONIDAE

This page contains pictures and information about Two-toned caterpillar parasite Wasps that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
 
Body length  20mm                                                                              
Two-toned caterpillar parasite is so-called because of the wasp has the two-toned body colours, black in the head and thorax with orange at the abdomen. The wasp has yellow legs and clear wings.
 
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This wasp is common in Brisbane garden. They are often found flying around low bushes about one meter above ground.
 
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In the above pictures the wasp was get caught by a spider web. Another wasp of the same species were wandering near by. We believe they were searching for caterpillars to parasite. 
 
This wasps attack Native Budworm helicoverpa and Armyworm Spodoptera caterpillars, but their larvae do not complete development until after the host caterpillar has pupated underground.
 
The wasp stings caterpillars at larger instars stages. After being parasitised, the host caterpillar continues to grow and pupate as normal. However, shortly after pupation, parasitoid feeds and kills the host. After the parasitoid is fully developed, it pupates within the host pupal case. The adult wasp emerges by chewing open the pupal case and exits the pupal chamber by crawling up the emergence tunnel.

In spring, the parasitoid starts developing, the wasps emerging soon after the emergence of the over-wintering Helicoverpa moths.
 
Reference:
1. Insects of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University Press, 2nd Edition 1991, pp 943.
2. Heteropelma scaposum - Australian Insect Common Names, CSIRO, 2005.
3. Parasitoids: Natural enemies of helicoverpa - Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland, 2005 
4. Wasps - family Ichneumonidae - lifeunseen.com, by Nick Monaghan. 
5. An introduction to the Ichneumonidae of Australia - Gauld, I.D. 1984, British Museum, p324.
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Last updated: August 18, 2012.