Apophua

Taxonomy

Apophua simplicipes is a species of wasp belonging to the family Ichneumonidae within the order Hymenoptera. The genus Apophua is diverse, and species are distributed worldwide. Apophua simplicipes is primarily found in North America, with its geographic distribution spanning across various regions of the United States and Canada. Taxonomically, A. simplicipes is classified under the subfamily Ichneumoninae, characterized by their slender bodies and long ovipositors. This species plays a crucial ecological role as a parasitoid, with its larvae developing within the bodies of other insects, often caterpillars. 

Description

Apophua simplicipes is a relatively small wasp species, typically measuring around 5 to 10mm in length. It exhibits a slender body shape with a distinct black coloration. The antennae are elongated and often noticeably curved. The wings of A. simplicipes are transparent and boldly veined, a characteristic of most Ichneumon wasps. Like other members of the Ichneumonidae family, female A. simplicipes possess a long ovipositor used to deposit eggs into the host insect. 

Nest Structure

No information at this time.

Hole Sizes

No information at this time.

Voltinism

No information at this time.

Activity Period

No information at this time.

References

Thank you to John Luhman for identifying all of our Ichneumonid specimens.

BugGuide. 2024. "Species Apophua simplicipes - BugGuide.Net." Accessed May 17, 2024. https://bugguide.net/node/view/2335378

Discover Life. 2024. "Ichneumonidae." In Proceedings of the Ecological Society of America, vol. 6. Accessed May 17, 2024. https://www.discoverlife.org/proceedings/0000/6/html/Ichneumonidae.html