California-oak-moth-parasite
Guides
Mesochorus americanus
Mesochorus americanus is an ichneumon wasp described by Cresson in 1872. The genus Mesochorus comprises hyperparasitoids—parasitoids that attack other parasitoids rather than host insects directly. Records indicate this species has been collected at several locations in Canada, including Edmonton, Dauphin, and Lenswood. A specific host association has been documented: the species has been recorded as a parasite of California Oak Moth (Phryganidia californica) caterpillars.
Mesochorus giberius
Mesochorus giberius is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. The genus Mesochorus comprises hyperparasitoids, meaning they parasitize other parasitoids rather than attacking host 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 moth food webs. The species was described by Thunberg in 1822 and occurs in western North America.