Pimplini
Pimplini
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Hymenoptera
- Superfamily: Ichneumonoidea
- Family: Ichneumonidae
- Subfamily: Pimplinae
- Tribe: Pimplini
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Pimplini: //ˈpɪmplɪnaɪ//
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Images
Summary
Pimplini is a tribe within the family Ichneumonidae, characterized by its parasitic behavior, particularly targeting the pupae of Lepidoptera. It includes several genera, with Pimpla being one of the most recognized, and showcases biodiversity across various regions worldwide.
Physical Characteristics
Generally sturdy black wasps with orange markings; first tergite is box-like with the spiracle anterior to the middle. Females of Apechthis have a white stripe on the facial orbits, while males have a largely or completely white face.
Identification Tips
Female Apecthis can be distinguished by the white stripe on the facial orbits. Males have a largely or completely white face. The indentation of the eye at the level of the antennal socket is present in Apecthis and Itoplectis but not in Pimpla.
Habitat
Often found in leaf litter or exposed situations where their hosts, such as pupae of Lepidoptera, are located.
Distribution
Afrotropical, Eastern and Western Palaearctic, European, Nearctic, Palaearctic, Neotropical regions.
Diet
Species of Pimplini are usually internal parasites of pupae of Lepidoptera; however, Itoplectis and, to a lesser extent, Pimpla may also parasitize Symphyta or Ichneumonoidea.
Life Cycle
Pimplini species are idiobiont endoparasitoids, often targeting the pupae stage of their hosts.
Reproduction
Details on specific reproductive behaviors were not provided, but typical for parasitic wasps involves laying eggs in or on the host pupae.
Ecosystem Role
As parasites of Lepidoptera and other insects, Pimplini play a role in controlling pest populations and contribute to the ecological balance.
Economic Impact
Potentially beneficial for agriculture by controlling pest species such as certain moths.
Collecting Methods
- Field collecting using nets or traps targeting known host locations.
- Light trapping at night for nocturnal species.
Preservation Methods
- Pinned specimens for taxonomic study.
- Frozen samples for genetic analysis.
Evolution
Theroniini was re-split from Pimplini by Klopfstein et al. (2018), suggesting a complex evolutionary history within this tribe.
Similar Taxa
Misconceptions
Some may confuse Pimplini with other parasitic wasps due to the variability in coloration and size.
Tags
- Insects
- Hymenoptera
- Parasitic Wasps
- Pimplini
- Ichneumonidae