Ichneumonidae

General Description

Body black and orange. The Ichneumon wasps resemble another group of parasitoid wasps called the braconids but can be told apart by different patterns of veins in their wings (ichneumons usually have a diamond or pentagon shaped area in the forewing). Body length up to 2.5 cm.

Biology

The Ichneumonidae are a large family of parasitoid wasps i.e. they lay their eggs inside the eggs, larvae or bodies of other animals. They primarily parasitise invertebrates such as larvae and pupae of beetles, other wasps and butterflies and moths. Ichneumonid adult wasps are generally seen on leaves or walking on the ground searching for larvae and pupae to parasitise.

Distribution

Worldwide; throughout Australia.

Habitat

Open eucalypt forests.