Aerophilus
Szépligeti, 1902
Species Guides
1Aerophilus is a of in the Braconidae, Agathidinae. These wasps are koinobiont endoparasitoids that attack caterpillars as early instars but delay killing the until it is about to pupate. The genus exhibits a worldwide distribution with 35 described in the United States and Canada. While individual species typically have narrow host ranges attacking a single caterpillar species, the genus collectively parasitizes caterpillars across many Lepidoptera families.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Aerophilus: /ˌaɪərəʊˈfaɪləs/
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Images
Distribution
Worldwide distribution. Thirty-five have been described from the United States and Canada.
Host Associations
- caterpillars - koinobiont endoparasitoid attacked as early instar, consumed and killed when host is about to pupate
Life Cycle
Koinobiont endoparasitoid development: larva develops inside living caterpillar, with host death occurring when the caterpillar is about to pupate.
Ecological Role
of caterpillars, contributing to of Lepidoptera.
Human Relevance
Several have been used in programs, though with minimal success.
More Details
Host specificity pattern
Nearly all of Aerophilus have a narrow range, attacking only one caterpillar species. However, the host range of the as a whole is quite broad, including many of Lepidoptera.