Orussus thoracicus
Orussus thoracicus is a parasitic woodwasp in the Orussidae, one of the rarest and most unusual groups of Hymenoptera. are often mistaken for carpenter ants due to their dark coloration and wing-folding . The has been recorded from Canada, specifically British Columbia, though its and remain poorly documented. Like other orussids, it likely parasitizes wood-boring larvae using specialized vibrational sounding to locate .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Orussus thoracicus: /oˈrʊs.sus θɔˈraː.kɪ.kus/
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Distribution
Recorded from British Columbia, Canada. The Orussus occurs in forested regions of North America, with found on logs and dead standing trees where bark has been stripped.
Similar Taxa
- Orussus minutusSimilar size and appearance; O. minutus has been recorded from eastern North America with recent western range expansions to Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, and Manitoba. O. thoracicus is currently known only from western Canada.
- Orussus occidentalisWestern North American with better-documented ; females have been observed using vibrational sounding to locate larvae in wood-boring tunnels.