ICHNEUMONIDAE: : Helictes Haliday 1837
Diagnosis:
Characteristics of Helictes 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 variable; 5. Metasoma somewhat compressed dorsal-ventrally; 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 absent; 12. Shape of face in lateral view 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 same colour throughout; 17. Length of T1 vs T2 subequal in length; 18. Sculpture on mesoscutum finely pitted, many hairs; 19. Width of T1 (viewed dorsally) uniform width (slightly widening posteriorly); 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
Helictes are most similar to Megastylus . However, in Megastylus the antennal scape is 'goblet-shaped' (strongly obliquely truncate), whereas in Helictes the antennal scape is short but cylindrical.Distribution in NZ
North Island: AK, BP, CL, GB, HB, WO. South Island: NN, BR, CO, OL.
Species in NZ
Three undescribed endemic species.Biology & hosts
Helictes is a large genus with species mainly occurring in the Holarctic and Neotropical regions, with many species in Chile and the Andes (Gauld 1984). In Australia, Helictes is only known from Tasmania.No information is available on the genus in New Zealand. However, collection records indicate they are predominately caught in forested areas, although a few have been collected from peat bogs in the Waikato.
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 Helictes http://ichneumonidae.landcareresearch.co.nzAccessed: 2 May 2024