Aulacus

Jurine, 1807

Aulacus is a of in the Aulacidae, one of two extant genera alongside its sister genus Pristaulacus. The genus comprises approximately 77 described with a nearly worldwide distribution, though notably absent from the Afrotropics and Antarctica. Species are generally smaller than those of Pristaulacus and are known as parasitoids, primarily attacking wood-boring and . The genus as currently defined is with respect to Pristaulacus and requires taxonomic revision to establish groupings.

Aulacus schiffi by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Aulacus: //ɔːˈlæ.kʊs//

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Identification

Aulacus are generally small aulacid . The lacks an occipital , and the are simple. The possesses 2r-m, which distinguishes the from Pristaulacus, where this vein is absent.

Images

Distribution

Nearly worldwide, absent from the Afrotropics and Antarctica. Recorded from Australia (eastern mainland and Tasmania, with 60 ), North America (32 species), Colombia (North Andean block, cloud forest), New Caledonia (moist evergreen rainforest of Grande Terre), and Türkiye (first record of ).

Host Associations

wood-boring beetles (Cerambycidae, Buprestidae) - larval
wood wasps (Xiphydriidae) - larval
Xiphydria picta - putative collected in association with A. striatus in Türkiye
Xiphydria prolongata - putative collected in association with A. striatus in Türkiye

Behavior

Females walk haltingly across logs while searching for , bobbing their slightly and slowly rowing their . They cracks and crevices by inserting their deeply, apparently using them to detect host location. Once a host is located, the female commences , with grooves on the inner surface of the hind helping guide and stabilize the thin during insertion into wood.

Ecological Role

of wood-boring , regulating of , , and in forest .

Similar Taxa

PristaulacusLarger body size; lacks 2r-m present in Aulacus; shares Aulacidae and lifestyle