Chloriontinae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Sphecidae
Subfamily: Chloriontinae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Chloriontinae: //klɔːˌri.ɔnˈtiː.ne.iː//

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

Images

Flickr - ggallice - Wasp (cropped) by Geoff Gallice from Gainesville, FL, USA. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Flickr - ggallice - Wasp by Geoff Gallice from Gainesville, FL, USA. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Sphecidae sp by Jessica Lawrence, Eurofins Agroscience Services, Bugwood.org. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Steel-blue cricket hunter (36195314604) by Melissa McMasters from Memphis, TN, United States. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Chlorion aerarium 2 BIML USGS by USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Laboratory. Used under a Public domain license.

Steel-blue cricket hunter (36195315964) by Melissa McMasters from Memphis, TN, United States. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Summary

Chloriontinae is a subfamily of parasitoid wasps in the family Sphecidae, consisting of the genus Chlorion with around 20 recognized species, predominantly found in tropical regions. They play a crucial role in controlling insect populations.

Physical Characteristics

Species within the Chlorion genus exhibit a steel-blue coloration, particularly noted in Chlorion aerarium, which is commonly referred to as the Steel-blue Cricket Hunter Wasp.

Identification Tips

Look for wasps that display a metallic sheen and have slender bodies typical of the Sphecidae family.

Habitat

Chlorion species can be found in various habitats including grasslands, fields, and forests where prey such as Orthopteran insects are abundant.

Distribution

Chlorion species have been recorded in the Americas, Africa, and tropical Asia extending to Java.

Diet

Chlorion wasps are parasitoids specializing in preying on Orthopteran insects, such as crickets and grasshoppers.

Life Cycle

Chlorion wasps undergo a complete metamorphosis, including egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages.

Reproduction

Females lay eggs on or inside their Orthopteran hosts, which serve as a food source for the developing larvae.

Ecosystem Role

As parasitoid wasps, Chlorion species play a vital role in controlling the populations of their prey, helping to maintain ecological balance.

Collecting Methods

Netting adult wasps in their habitat
Setting bait traps near known nesting sites

Preservation Methods

Ethanol preservation
Pinning and mounting for display

Evolution

The Chloriontinae subfamily diverged from other groups within Sphecidae, with adaptations for a parasitoid lifestyle and specialized predation.

Similar Taxa

Sphecidae
Cricket Hunter Wasps

Misconceptions

Some may confuse them with more aggressive wasp species, but Chlorion wasps are primarily parasitoids and not aggressive towards humans unless provoked.