Seldom-observed
Guides
Aulacus brevicaudus
Aulacus brevicaudus is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Aulacidae, a group often overlooked due to their resemblance to ichneumon wasps. The genus Aulacus comprises generally smaller species compared to the related genus Pristaulacus. Like other aulacids, this species is associated with wood-boring beetle hosts. Aulacidae as a family contains two genera and approximately 185 species globally, with 32 species recorded in North America.
Aulacus dispilis
Aulacus dispilis is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Aulacidae, first described by Townes in 1950. The genus Aulacus comprises smaller species compared to the related genus Pristaulacus. Aulacid wasps are known parasitoids of wood-boring beetle larvae, particularly Cerambycidae (longhorned beetles) and Buprestidae (jewel beetles), as well as larval wood wasps in Xiphydriidae. Like other aulacids, this species is seldom encountered due to its specialized habitat associations with recently cut or damaged wood.