Cocoon-web
Guides
Acrotaphus
Acrotaphus is a genus of spider-attacking parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Pimplinae, tribe Ephialtini. The genus contains 27 described species distributed across the New World, with particularly high diversity in the Neotropics including the Brazilian Amazon. These wasps are ectoparasitoids of orb-weaver spiders in the families Araneidae and Tetragnathidae. A defining characteristic of the genus is the ability to induce behavioral modification in host spiders, causing them to construct specialized "cocoon webs" that support and protect the wasp pupae.
Zatypota
Zatypota is a genus of ichneumonid wasps comprising at least 40 described species, distributed across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. All species are koinobiont ectoparasitoids of spiders, primarily targeting theridiid spiders though some species parasitize linyphiids and araneids. The genus is notable for inducing behavioral manipulation in host spiders, causing them to construct specialized "cocoon webs" that protect the developing wasp larva. Several species have been documented as hosts for hyperparasitoid chalcidid wasps, forming complex three-trophic-level interactions.
Zatypota alborhombarta
Zatypota alborhombarta is an ichneumonid parasitoid wasp in the subfamily Pimplinae and clade Polysphincta. It is a koinobiont ectoparasite of adult theridiid spiders, including Cryptachaea jequirituba and Achaearanea tingo. The wasp induces host behavioral modification to construct a protective 'cocoon web'—a simplified, reinforced web structure that shelters the developing parasitoid larva. This manipulation represents a sophisticated host-parasitoid interaction involving the repetition of specific web-building behavioral subroutines.