Mesochorus giberius
(Thunberg, 1822)
Mesochorus giberius is a of ichneumon in the Ichneumonidae. The Mesochorus comprises hyperparasitoids, meaning they parasitize other rather than attacking insects directly. Records indicate this species has been reared from caterpillars of the California Oak Moth (Phryganidia californica), suggesting it may function as a tertiary parasitoid in oak . The species was described by Thunberg in 1822 and occurs in western North America.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Mesochorus giberius: /məˈsɒkərəs dʒɪˈbɪəriəs/
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Distribution
Recorded from multiple locations in western Canada including Buffalo Creek, Duffield, Edmonton, Nampa, and Ponoka in Alberta. The has also been documented in association with California Oak Moth in California, USA.
Host Associations
- Phryganidia californica - Reared from caterpillars; likely hyperparasitoid given -level
Ecological Role
As a member of the Mesochorus, this likely functions as a hyperparasitoid, attacking primary or secondary of lepidopteran . This places it at the fourth in , potentially regulating of other parasitoid species.