Pelecinus

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Pelecinus
IC Pelecinus polyturator.JPG
Pelecinus polyturator
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Superfamily: Proctotrupoidea
Family: Pelecinidae
Genus: Pelecinus
Latreille, 1800
Species

The genus Pelecinus is the only living member of the family Pelecinidae (there are also many fossil genera),[1] and contains only three species, restricted to the New World. One species, Pelecinus polyturator, occurs from North through South America, and the others occur in Mexico () and South America (). The females are glossy wasps, very long (up to 7 cm) and the abdomen is extremely attenuated, used to lay eggs directly on scarab larvae buried in the soil.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ Engel, Michael S.; Grimaldi, David A. (2006). "A Diminutive Pelecinid Wasp in Cretaceous Amber from New Jersey (Hymenoptera: Pelecinidae)". Northeastern Naturalist. 13 (2): 291–297. doi:10.1656/1092-6194(2006)13[291:adpwic]2.0.co;2. JSTOR 3858299.
  2. ^ Johnson, N.F.; Musetti, L. (1999). "Revision of the proctotrupoid genus Pelecinus Latreille (Hymenoptera: Pelecinidae)". Journal of Natural History. 33 (10): 1513–1543. doi:10.1080/002229399299879.


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