ICHNEUMONIDAE: : Aclosmation Gauld 1984

Diagnosis:

Characteristics of Aclosmation include: 1. Body size <10mm; 2. Position of spiracle on T1 at, close to, or before centre; 3. Shape of aerolet in forewing pentagonal (open); 4. Colour of face only black; 5. Metasoma compressed dorsal-ventrally; 6. Size of ocelli small; 7. Length of antennae varibale, shorter, as long, or longer than body; 8. Length of ovipositor distinct but not longer than body; 9. Wings present but sometimes very reduced or 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) not extending past spiracle; 14. Shape of T1 (viewed laterally) evenly curved; 15. Number of teeth in mandibles 1 or 2; 16. Metasoma same colour throughout; 17. Length of T1 vs T2 subequal in length or T1 longer than T2; 18. Sculpture on mesoscutum finely pitted, many hairs; 19. Width of T1 (viewed dorsally) anterior part slender often parallel, strongly widening behind spiracle but can also be gradually widening from anterior to posterior; 20. Glymma on T1 absent; 21. Sculpture on metasoma smooth with a glossy appearance (highly polished, no punctures), or 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, HB, TK, TO, WA, WI, WO, RI. South Island: NN, BR, MC, CO, OL, WD, FD, MK

Species in NZ

Approximately thirty undescribed species.

Biology & hosts

Aclosmation is a southern temperate genus with species in Australia and New Zealand (Gauld 1984). Despite being very diverse, with an estimated thirty species, and commonly collected, nothing is known about the New Zealand species.

Sources of information

Gauld ID 1984. An Introduction to the Ichneumonidae of Australia. London, British Museum (Natural History). 413 p

Citation

Ward DF & Schnitzler FR. 2013. Ichneumonidae of New Zealand. Genus Aclosmation http://ichneumonidae.landcareresearch.co.nz
Accessed: 2 May 2024

Revised

v1.0. Ward DF & Schnitzler FR. 2013