ICHNEUMONIDAE: : Campoplex Gravenhorst 1829

Diagnosis:

Characteristics of Campoplex include: 1. Body size <10mm; 2. Position of spiracle on T1 clearly behind the centre; 3. Shape of aerolet in forewing is open or petiolate; 4. Colour of face only black; 5. Metasoma usually compressed laterally; 6. Size of ocelli small; 7. Length of antennae varies; 8. Length of ovipositor distinct not longer than body (rarely longer than the body); 9. Wings present; 10. Colour of wings hyaline (clear); 11. Sternaulus absent; 12. Shape of face in lateral view flat or only weakly bulging; 13. Sternite on T1 (viewed laterally) varibale (not extending past spiracle, or extending past spiracle sometimes forming a long cylinder with tergite); 14. Shape of T1 (viewed laterally) evenly curved; 15. Number of teeth in mandibles 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; 20. Glymma on T1 absent; 21. Sculpture on metasoma smooth with a semi-glossy or satin appearance at least on T2; 22. Propodeum reaching past coxal insertion, but not reaching halfway along metacoxae.

Similarity to Other Taxa

Campoplex is most likely to be confused with other genera of Campopleginae.

Compare

Distribution in NZ

North Island: ND, AK, BP, CL, GB, HB, TK, TO, WA, WI, WN, WO, RI. South Island: NN, BR, MB, MC, DN, CO, OL, WD, FD, SI, MK, SL. Offshore Islands: TH, CH, AU, CA.

Species in NZ

Two endemic species: Campoplex disjunctus Townes, 1964, C. hudsoni (Cameron, 1901) and approximately twenty undescribed species.

Biology & hosts

Campoplex is an extremely large genus found around the world, and which can have a considerable range of morphological variation (Gauld 1984).

Campoplex is found throughout New Zealand including on some subantarctic islands. They are commonly collected. Little is known about their hosts, although they are parasitoids of Lepidoptera. Campoplex hudsoni has been reported from Izatha attactella (Oecophoridae).

Sources of information

Gauld ID. 1984. An Introduction to the Ichneumonidae of Australia. London, British Museum (Natural History). 413 p.
Valentine EW & Walker AK. 1991. Annotated Catalogue of New Zealand Hymenoptera. DSIR Plant Protection Report 4. General Printing Services, 84 p.

Citation

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

Revised

v1.0. Ward DF & Schnitzler FR. 2013