ICHNEUMONIDAE: : Genus K
Diagnosis:
Presence of a pentagonal areolat IN COMBINATION with a glymma on T1 are distinctive characters of this genus.Characteristics of Genus K 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 black; 5. Metasoma not compressed; 6. Size of ocelli small; 7. Length of antennae shorter than body; 8. Length of ovipositor barely visible; 9. Wings present; 10. Colour of wings hyaline (clear); 11. Sternaulus short (less than 0.5x length mesopleuron) to longer; 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 2; 16. Metasoma generally the same colour thoughout; 17. Length of T1 longer than T2; 18. Sculpture on mesoscutum finely pitted, many hairs; 19. Width of T1 (viewed dorsally) anterior part slender often parallel, somewhat strongly widening behind spiracle; 20. Glymma on T1 present, (deep pit); 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: CL, WN, WO. South Island: NN, BR, CO.
Species in NZ
One undescribed species of this unnamed genus discovered by ID Gauld in 1999.Biology & hosts
This taxa has been previously listed in oneline checklists of New Zealand Hymenoptera as ‘ Incertae cedis ’, meaning ‘of uncertain placement’. Nothing is known about the biology of this genus. It is rarely collected, but occurs in Nothofagus forest, tussock grassland and wetlands.Sources of information
Unpub. data, NZAC.Citation
Ward DF & Schnitzler FR. 2013. Ichneumonidae of New Zealand. Genus K http://ichneumonidae.landcareresearch.co.nzAccessed: 2 May 2024