Mesochorus americanus
Cresson, 1872
Mesochorus americanus is an ichneumon described by Cresson in 1872. The Mesochorus comprises hyperparasitoids— that attack other parasitoids rather than insects directly. Records indicate this has been collected at several locations in Canada, including Edmonton, Dauphin, and Lenswood. A specific host association has been documented: the species has been recorded as a of California Oak Moth (Phryganidia californica) caterpillars.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Mesochorus americanus: //ˌmɛsəˈkɔrəs əˌmɛrɪˈkeɪnəs//
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Distribution
Recorded from Canada: Edmonton (Alberta), Dauphin (Manitoba), Lenswood (Saskatchewan), and Wagner Natural Area (Alberta).
Host Associations
- Phryganidia californica - Recorded from California Oak Moth caterpillars (Carmean, Miller, and Scaccia, 1989)
Ecological Role
As a member of the Mesochorus, this functions as a hyperparasitoid, contributing to the complex trophic web of . The documented association with California Oak Moth suggests it may play a role in regulating of this oak-defoliating , though the specific ecological impact of M. americanus itself remains unquantified.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
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