Acanthochalcis unispinosa

Distinguished from Acanthochalcis nigricans by the absence of white pubescent patches on the abdomen; both species share the diagnostic features of the genus including large body size (~19 mm including ovipositor), greatly swollen and toothed hind femora characteristic of family Chalcididae, and an extraordinarily long ovipositor. The two species represent the only commonly encountered Acanthochalcis species in North America.

Associated with dead wood of mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and other woody plants supporting wood-boring beetle hosts.

Texas to California, southwestern United States.

• Chrysobothris - parasitoidJewel beetles (Buprestidae), primary host genus

Females use their long ovipositor to probe dead wood and parasitize wood-boring beetle larvae; has been observed flying around and landing on dead mesquite branches in search of hosts.

Parasitoid of wood-boring beetles, contributing to population regulation of Buprestidae in southwestern U.S. ecosystems.

• Acanthochalcis nigricansLarger congener with white pubescent patches on abdomen; both species share large size, long ovipositor, and parasitoid association with Chrysobothris jewel beetles, but A. nigricans ranges from Kansas and Oklahoma west to California
• Other ChalcididaeDistinguished from most chalcidids by exceptionally large body size and extraordinarily long ovipositor; typical chalcidids are smaller with less dramatically elongated ovipositors

• parasitoid
• wood-boring beetle parasitoid
• Chrysobothris
• Buprestidae
• Chalcididae
• southwestern United States
• mesquite associate
• long ovipositor

• BugGuide
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• Catalogue of Life
• Hymenoptera | Beetles In The Bush | Page 5
• June | 2013 | Beetles In The Bush
• Belostomatidae | Beetles In The Bush