ICHNEUMONIDAE: : Aclastus Forster 1869
Diagnosis:
Characteristics of Aclastus include: 1. Body size <10mm; 2. Position of spiracle variable; 3. Shape of aerolet in forewing pentagonal (open); 4. Colour of face not all black; 5. Metasoma compressed dorsal-ventrally; 6. Size of ocelli small; 7. Length of antennae variable, shorter than body, as long, or longer than body; 8. Length of ovipositor distinct but not longer than body; 9. Wings usually present but sometimes wingless; 10. Colour of wings hyaline (clear); 11. Sternaulus short; less than 0.5x length mesopleuron; 12. Shape of face in lateral view flat or only weakly bulging; 13. Sternite on T1 (viewed laterally) sternite not extending past spiracle; 14. Shape of T1 (viewed laterally) evenly curved; 15. Number of teeth in mandibles 2; 16. Metasoma same colour throughout; 17. Length of T1 longer than T2; 18. Sculpture on mesoscutum finely pitted, many hairs; 19. Width of T1 varies (viewed dorsally) anterior part slender often parallel, strongly widening behind spiracle, but also gradually widening from anterior to posterior; 20. Glymma on T1 absent; 21. Sculpture on metasoma smooth with a semi-glossy or satin appearance at least on T2; 22. Propodeum very short (not reaching beyond coxal insertion).Distribution in NZ
North Island: ND, AK, BP, CL, TO, WA, WI. South Island: NN, SD, BR, MC, OL, FD
Species in NZ
Approximately five undescribed species.Biology & hosts
Aclastus is a large genus with species occurring around the world, where they favour damp forested habitats (Gauld 1984).Sources of information
Citation
Ward DF & Schnitzler FR. 2013. Ichneumonidae of New Zealand. Genus Aclastus http://ichneumonidae.landcareresearch.co.nzAccessed: 2 May 2024