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Sphecophaga
Sphecophaga is a genus of ichneumonid wasps specialized as ectoparasitoids of vespid wasps. Species within this genus parasitize nests of social wasps, with larvae feeding externally on immature wasp pupae. The genus exhibits complex polymorphism in adult forms and cocoon types, and has been widely introduced as a biological control agent for invasive Vespula wasp species. Two recognized species occur: S. orientalis parasitizing Vespa orientalis in the Mediterranean region, and S. vesparum with subspecies in Europe and North America targeting Vespula species.
ectoparasitoid biological-control polymorphism social-insect-parasite cuticular-hydrocarbons chemical-deception parthenogenesis Vespula Vespa Ichneumonidae
Vespula infernalis
cuckoo yellowjacket, American cuckoo yellowjacket
Vespula infernalis is an obligate social parasite (inquiline) that invades and usurps colonies of other yellowjacket species, primarily Vespula acadica in North America. Unlike most parasitic wasps, it exhibits intensely aggressive behavior during colony takeover, using specialized morphological adaptations including a large, heavily curved stinger to subdue host workers. The species lacks a worker caste and cannot build nests or rear its own young, instead forcing host workers to feed and care for its brood through dominance behaviors including mauling and forced trophallaxis.
social-parasite inquiline cuckoo-wasp yellowjacket aggressive-parasitism Vespula Hymenoptera Nearctic boreal-forest Vespula-acadica forced-trophallaxis mauling-behavior curved-stinger no-worker-caste obligate-parasitism Dufour's-gland oogenesis-suppression fourth-mandibular-tooth Kimsey-&-Carpenter-2012 Vespula-austriaca-sister-species short-flight-season June-to-September Canada United-States Alaska New-Jersey Michigan Wisconsin North-Dakota New-Mexico Arizona California stable-population subterranean-nests host-queen-usurpation host-worker-manipulation reproductive-monopoly venom-paralyzes-hosts minimal-foraging no-nest-construction no-thermoregulation-behavior egg-laying-on-comb-exterior autumn-queen-production longer-hibernation-than-hosts preusurpation-phase queen-reared-worker-stage-invasion post-emergence-colony-stage-invasion patrol-behavior cell-inspection dominance-assertion evolutionary-strategy-kill-older-workers-first worker-oviposition-suppression gastral-dragging 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