Holopyga horus
Holopyga horus is a of cuckoo wasp in the Chrysididae. Like other members of the Holopyga, it is a that exploits the nests of other . Research indicates that females may lay directly into aphids, which are then captured by crabronid wasps such as Pemphredon and carried to their nests. The cuckoo wasp larva emerges before the larva and consumes the provisions intended for the host offspring. This indirect parasitic strategy has been documented in related Holopyga species and is suspected to occur in H. horus.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Holopyga horus: /ˌhɒləˈpaɪɡə ˈhɔːrəs/
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Host Associations
- Aphidoidea - deposition siteFemale lays into ; when aphid is captured by crabronid and carried to nest, cuckoo wasp larva develops in nest
- Crabronidae - nest of nests; specifically Pemphredon and related that prey on aphids
Behavior
Females have been observed or are suspected to employ an indirect strategy: laying into aphids that serve as prey for crabronid . When the wasp transports the parasitized to its nest, the cuckoo wasp larva emerges and acts as a , consuming the food stores intended for the host larva. This has been formally described for other Holopyga and is inferred for H. horus based on -level patterns.
Ecological Role
that reduces reproductive success of crabronid by usurping nest provisions.
Similar Taxa
- OmalusShares similar indirect involving deposition into aphids; historically confused in behavioral interpretations
- PseudomalusRelated cleptoparasitic with comparable strategy and associations
More Details
Behavioral documentation
The indirect strategy involving -laying into aphids was formally described for Holopyga by Veenendaal (2012). This challenges earlier assumptions that Chrysididae infect nests directly.