Aulacid Wasps

Aulacidae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Superfamily: Evanioidea
Family: Aulacidae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Aulacidae: //aʊˈlæ.sɪˌdi//

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

Images

Deraiodontus violaceus by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Aulacostethus occidentalis lavatus by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Pristaulacus tamaulipas by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Summary

Aulacidae is a small family of wasps that serve as endoparasitoids, primarily targeting larval wood-boring beetles and wood wasps. They are cosmopolitan, with a significant presence in tropical areas and a notable fossil history.

Physical Characteristics

Adults usually black with reddish abdomen, longer antennae. Feature a neck between head and thorax and a high attachment point of the metasoma above the hind coxae on the propodeum. The metasoma is attached very high on the body compared to similar families.

Identification Tips

Distinguished from Gasteruptiidae by their less slender and elongate form, and more sculptured thoraces. They possess a notable neck between their head and thorax, and the presence or absence of specific wing venation helps separate the genera: Aulacus has a 2r-m vein and a longer 2-Rs+M vein, while Pristaulacus lacks a 2r-m vein and has a shortened 2-Rs+M vein.

Habitat

Adults are typically found around logs and areas where their hosts occur, often in regions affected by logging or forest fires.

Distribution

Most diverse in tropical regions, with around 32 extant species in 2 genera observed in our area; approximately 200 known species worldwide along with many undescribed species.

Diet

Endoparasitoids of wood-boring larvae of beetles (primarily from families Cerambycidae and Buprestidae) and Xiphydria wood wasps.

Life Cycle

The aulacid larva correlates in size with the host larva at the beginning of development, prolonging its own growth until the host is mature, at which point it consumes the host. The mature larva leaves the empty cuticle of the host, constructs a cocoon, and pupates.

Reproduction

Endoparasitic; the female lays eggs within the larva of host beetles or wood wasps, after which the larvae develop inside the host and ultimately consume it.

Ecosystem Role

They serve as biological control agents, regulating populations of their wood-boring host larvae.

Economic Impact

Their role as parasitoids of wood-boring larvae can impact pest populations in forestry.

Evolution

The Aulacidae has a rich fossil record dating back to the Mesozoic, indicating their historical abundance.

Similar Taxa

Misconceptions

Frequently mistaken for ichneumonid wasps due to their habitats and appearances, particularly those frequenting dead trees and logs.