Compsocryptus
Compsocryptus
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Hymenoptera
- Superfamily: Ichneumonoidea
- Family: Ichneumonidae
- Subfamily: Cryptinae
- Tribe: Cryptini
- Subtribe: Cryptina
- Genus: Compsocryptus
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Compsocryptus: /ˌkɒmpsəˈkrɪptəs/
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Summary
Compsocryptus is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, characterized by their distinctive wing coloration and structure. They exhibit a range of coloration and are distributed across various states, primarily in North America.
Physical Characteristics
Most Compsocryptus may be recognized by their elegantly yellow banded brown or black wings, large and anteriorly wide areolet, short and weak notauli, strong ventro-lateral carina on postpetiole, and long, upcurved ovipositor. All but one species have the body and legs ferruginous to fulvous, while the eastern C. fasciipennis has the head and body blackish-blue.
Identification Tips
Females resemble species of Lanugo, which have straight ovipositors that are somewhat shorter. Males are often indistinguishable from males of Lanugo in photographs due to wing vein placements, but in Compsocryptus, the apex of 3A is closer to 1A than to the anal margin of the wing.
Distribution
This genus is found from northwest British Columbia to southern California, eastward to Idaho, Colorado, and New Mexico, with several species specifically identified in Texas, Arizona, and Florida.
Similar Taxa
Misconceptions
Distinguishing males of Compsocryptus and Lanugo from photographs is often considered impossible due to the visibility of a specific vein in the hindwing.
Tags
- Hymenoptera
- Ichneumonidae
- wasps
- Compsocryptus