Hemipenthes blanchardiana

(Jaennicke, 1867)

A of in the . of the Hemipenthes are hyper-, developing as parasites of ichneumon , , and other that are themselves parasites of . This makes them secondary consumers in . visit flowers for nectar. The species has been documented in Arizona and other parts of North America.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Hemipenthes blanchardiana: /ˌhɛ.mɪˈpɛn.θiːz ˌblæn.tʃɚˈdiː.ə.nə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Distribution

Documented in Arizona, USA. The Hemipenthes occurs in North America.

Seasonality

active in spring.

Diet

feed on nectar from flowers.

Life Cycle

. are hyper-, parasitizing the larvae of ichneumon , , and other of lepidopteran .

Behavior

visit flowers. Larval stage is parasitic.

Ecological Role

Hyper-. Functions as a secondary consumer in by parasitizing of .

Human Relevance

are harmless to humans and pets. The elongated used for nectar feeding may cause concern but is not used for blood-feeding.

Similar Taxa

  • Hemipenthes eumenesCongeneric with similar hyper-parasitic larval biology, distinguished by specific morphological and geographic differences.
  • Bombylius majorBoth are , but Bombylius major is a of solitary rather than a hyper-.
  • Villa spp.Related that are of lepidopteran , not hyper-.

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Sources and further reading