| Chrysura austriaca | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Chrysididae |
| Genus: | Chrysura |
| Species: | C. austriaca |
| Binomial name | |
| Chrysura austriaca (Fabricius, 1804) | |
Chrysura austriaca, also known as the Austrian cuckoo wasp, is a species of parasitic wasp within the family Chrysididae.
Chrysura austriaca can range in length from 8-12 mm long. The mesosoma and head are blue, sometimes with lateral golden green reflections on the mesoscutum. The metasoma however is golden red in colour. The mandible of the organism possesses a tiny subapical tooth. The antennal segments of males are not ventrally swollen. C. austriaca has a ventrally broader head than other similar coloured Chrysura species. [1] The flight period of the species is from June to early August. [2]
Chrysura austriaca has a Trans-Paleartic distribution reaching from Europe and North Africa to Siberia and Japan. [1] In Europe the species has been recorded in Germany, Spain, Italy [3] and Lithuania. [1]
Chrysura austriaca is a parasite therefore populations can only survive in close proximity to their host species. C. austriaca can be found living in forest margin and garden habitats near to sites where their host species lay their eggs such as: wooden fencing, brick and drystone walls, loess, rocks and clay deposits. [2]
The following species are known to be hosts for Chrysura austriaca. [2]
Commonly known as cuckoo wasps or emerald wasps, the hymenopteran family Chrysididae is a very large cosmopolitan group of parasitoid or kleptoparasitic wasps, often highly sculptured, with brilliant metallic colors created by structural coloration. They are most diverse in desert regions of the world, as they are typically associated with solitary bee and wasp species, which are also most diverse in such areas. Their brood parasitic lifestyle has led to the evolution of fascinating adaptations, including chemical mimicry of host odors by some species.
The subfamily Chrysidinae contains those species that are most commonly recognized as cuckoo wasps, being by far the largest and most familiar subfamily. The group contains 3000 species with 48 genera worldwide. They are highly sculptured, with brilliantly metallic-colored bodies, covering the entire spectrum, but primarily blues and greens.
Hedychrum rutilans is a species of cuckoo wasps. The species occurs primarily in Austria, Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, France, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and in North Africa. The head and thorax are metallic green with red spots, while the abdomen is red. The color is more green and partially golden in the male and more extensively golden-red in the female. The body is somewhat hairy.
Vespula austriaca is an obligate parasitic wasp, parasitizing the nests of other species in the genus Vespula in the Old World. Its common host species include V. rufa in Europe, Japan, and East Siberia.V. austriaca wasps pollinate orchids.
Chrysura is a genus of cuckoo wasps which parasitize megachilid bees. There are 117 species in Chrysura, all but 11 of which are found in the Palaearctic, making it the third largest genus in the family. The genus was described by Dahlbom in 1845, and the type species for the genus is Chrysura austriaca.
Chrysis ignita is a species of cuckoo wasp. It is one of a group of species which are difficult to separate and which may be referred to as ruby-tailed wasps.
Chrysidea pumila is a species of cuckoo wasps belonging to the subfamily Chrysidinae. Some authors consider this species as a synonym of Trichrysis pumilionis Linsenmaier, 1987.
Chrysura cuprea is a species of cuckoo wasps.
Chrysura refulgens is a species of cuckoo wasps.
Chrysis comparata is a species of cuckoo wasps.
Chrysis viridula is a Western Palearctic species of cuckoo wasp, first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1761. Chrysis viridula is included in the genus Chrysis, and the family Chrysididae. It is a parasitoid of a number of species of eumenid wasp, mainly those in the genus Odynerus.
Chrysura simplex is a species of cuckoo wasps, insects in the family Chrysididae.
Chrysis ruddii, the ruby-tailed wasp, is a species of cuckoo wasps, an insects in the family Chrysididae.
Chrysis angustula is a species of cuckoo wasps, insects in the family Chrysididae.
Omalus aeneus is a species of cuckoo wasps belonging to the family Chrysididae.
Omalus biaccinctus is a species of cuckoo wasps belonging to the family Chrysididae.
Parnopini is a small tribe of cuckoo wasps in the family Chrysididae. There are 3 genera and about 20 described species in Parnopini; only the hosts of one genus (Parnopes) are known, and they are in the Crabronidae.
Chrysis fulgida, the ruby-tailed wasp, is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae.
Osmia parietina, also known as the Western mason bee or wall mason bee, is a species of solitary bee within the family Megachilidae.
Chrysura hirsuta, also known as the Northern Osmia ruby-tailed wasp, is a species of parasitic cuckoo wasp within the family Chrysididae.