Spilopteron formosum
(Cresson, 1868)
Spilopteron formosum is a of ichneumon in the , first described by Cresson in 1868. The Spilopteron belongs to the diverse wasp family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families within . Species in this genus are poorly documented in the scientific literature, with limited published information on their biology and . The specific epithet "formosum" is Latin for "beautiful" or "handsome," likely referring to some aspect of the species' appearance.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Spilopteron formosum: /spɪlˈɒptərɒn fɔːrˈmoʊsəm/
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Distribution
Recorded from Treesbank, California, USA based on GBIF distribution data. The broader geographic range of this is not well documented.
Ecological Role
As a member of , this is presumed to be a , which typically play roles as agents by parasitizing other . However, specific relationships for S. formosum have not been documented.
More Details
Taxonomic Note
The Spilopteron is part of the enormous , which contains an estimated 60,000-100,000 worldwide, though only about 25,000 have been formally described. Many ichneumonid genera remain poorly studied, with species-level often based on limited material.
Data Availability
As of the available sources, this has 88 observations recorded on iNaturalist, indicating it is documented in citizen science databases, though detailed biological studies appear lacking.