Ephialtes spatulata

Taxonomy

Ephialtes spatulata belongs to the family Ichneumonidae within the subfamily Pimplinae. The name “spatulata” may stem from “flat” perhaps in reference to its physical characteristics. This species of Ichneumon wasp is characterized by its slender body and distinctive coloration, typically featuring various shades of black and orange-red. E. spatulata is primarily found in North America, with its range extending across various regions of the United States and Canada.

Description

Ichneumonids are typically slender wasps with long ovipositors, sometimes up to twice as long as their body. They have long antennae with 16 or more antennal segments. Ephialtes spatulata are medium-sized Ichneumonids. Females have a very long ovipositor with a drilling tip that they insert through wood into the nest of their insect host. Ephialtes spatulata looks like many other Ephialtes species and it can sometimes be hard to identify specimens to species. They are around 5 to 10mm long. The mandibles are long, with the lower tooth approximately twice the length of the upper one. The face is broad and wider than it is tall, measured from the base of the antennae to the clypeal suture. The tip of the ovipositor has lower valves that extend to partially cover the upper valve, and this feature is clearly visible when viewed from above. The clypeus of this species may be whitish, and the front wings usually have very long hairs restricted to the leading edge. Their bodies are black and slender while their legs and are orange-red or yellow.