Itoplectis

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Superfamily: Ichneumonoidea
Family: Ichneumonidae
Subfamily: Pimplinae
Tribe: Pimplini
Genus: Itoplectis

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Itoplectis: /ˌaɪtoʊˈplɛktɪs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Itoplectis obesus by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Itoplectis exareolata by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Itoplectis brevacus by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Summary

Itoplectis is a genus of insects within the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Arnold Förster in 1868. It consists of several species that are primarily parasitoids of various insects, contributing to ecosystems as biological control agents.

Distribution

Cosmopolitan distribution. Species are found in various regions including southwestern Canada, northeastern USA, and numerous states across North America such as Florida, New York, and California.

Diet

Larval parasitoids of various insect hosts; specific host examples include Galleria mellonella and entomophagous species like Aletia impura and Chilo phragmitellus.

Ecosystem Role

As parasitoids, they play an important role in controlling the populations of their host insects, contributing to biological control.