Trychosis

Förster, 1869

Species Guides

2

Trychosis is a of ichneumon wasps in the Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae, tribe Cryptini. The genus contains approximately 44 described distributed across the Holarctic region, with additional records from the Neotropics. Members are small to medium-sized with fore wing lengths ranging from 3.2 to 8.8 mm. At least one species, Trychosis cyperia, has been documented as a parasitoid of spiders.

Trychosis atrorubens by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.Trychosis latidens by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.Trychosis latidens by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Trychosis: //ˈtrɪk.oʊ.sɪs//

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Identification

Trychosis can be distinguished from related cryptine by the following combination of characters: moderately to strongly convex with margin to convex; mesoscutum very short with dense punctures; epomia usually present and strong; propodeum strongly oblique with anterior and transverse carinae; areolet usually parallel laterally (pentagonal); hind wing with 1-cu as long as or longer than cu-a; tergite 1 long, 0.5–0.6× as long as mesosoma; ovipositor thin, compressed, with nodus.

Images

Habitat

One has been collected from wetland dominated by Cyperaceae and Gramineae, specifically from emerged vegetation at 78.9 m elevation. Broader habitat associations for the remain poorly documented.

Distribution

The has a primarily Holarctic distribution with 44 described globally: 15 Eastern Palaearctic (6 also Western Palaearctic), 14 Western Palaearctic, 20 Nearctic, 2 Neotropical, and 1 Oriental. Distribution records from GBIF include Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. A new species was recently described from Naolihe National Natural Reserve, Heilongjiang Province, China.

Host Associations

  • spiders - Documented for Trychosis cyperia; relationships for other unknown

Ecological Role

Members function as , with at least one attacking spiders. The precise ecological role of most species remains undocumented.

Similar Taxa

  • Other Cryptini generaShares tribe Cryptini; distinguished by the combination of clypeal structure, short mesoscutum with dense punctures, propodeal carinae, areolet shape, and ovipositor

More Details

Taxonomic history

The was established by Förster in 1869. A recent taxonomic revision described a new from China and provided a key to Chinese species.

Sources and further reading