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Distribution |
Holarctic region; introduced to Australia, New Zealand and
South Africa (1995-2007) to control
Sirex noctilio a pest
in Pine plantations (Pinus radiata). |
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Biology |
Parasitoids of woodwasps: Sirex, Urocerus
and Xeris (Siricidae) living in conifers.
Males mate with
females while they are laying eggs. The female inserts
her
ovipositor down the tunnel bored in Pine trees by the host
woodwasp larva, to lay an egg either into the egg of the host or into
the young host larva. On hatching the ibaliid wasp larva emerges from
the body of the host and feeds externally. |
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References |
Hurley B.P., Slippers, B. &
Wingfield, M.J. 2007. A comparison of control results for the alien
invasive woodwasp, Sirex noctilio, in the southern hemisphere.
Agricultural and Forest Entomology 9: 159–171.
van
Noort, S. & Picker, M.
2011.
Wasps, Bees, Ants. Class Insecta, Order Hymenoptera.
Pp 140-146. In:
Picker,
M. & Griffiths, C. (eds.)
Alien & Invasive Animals. A South African perspective.
Struik Nature.
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Credits
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Photographs © Simon van Noort (Iziko Museums). Specimens
donated by Brett Hurley (FABI, Pretoria).
Matt Buffington
(Systematic Entomology Laboratory, USDA/ARS) played an integral role in the
development of the Cynipoidea pages
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