ICHNEUMONIDAE: : Zealochus Khalaim 2004

Diagnosis:

In the forewing the areolet is 'condensed', and the veins join up in one place.

Characteristics of Zealochus include: 1. Body size <10mm; 2. Position of spiracle on T1 clearly behind the centre; 3. Aerolet in forewing 'condensed'; 4. Colour of face not all black; 5. Metasoma compressed dorsal-ventrally; 6. Size of ocelli small; 7. Length of antennae shorter than body; 8. Length of ovipositor not longer than body; 9. Wings present; 10. Colour of wings hyaline (clear); 11. Sternaulus variable - absent, short or long; 12. Shape of face in lateral view flat or only weakly bulging; 13. Sternite on T1 (viewed laterally) 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 longer than T2; 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 glossy appearance (highly polished, no punctures); 22. Propodeum very short (not reaching beyond coxal insertion).

Similarity to Other Taxa

North Island: ND, AK, BP, CL, HB, TO. South Island: NN, BR.

Distribution in NZ

North Island: ND, AK, BP, CL, HB, TO. South Island: NN, BR.

Species in NZ

Three endemic species; Zealochus supergranulatus Khalaim 2004; Z. gauldi Khalaim 2006; Z. postfurcalis Khalaim 2006; and several undescribed species.

Biology & hosts

This subfamily is very poorly known in New Zealand, it was not included in the 1991 Catalogue of New Zealand Hymenoptera (Valentine & Walker 1991). This genus is endemic to New Zealand. There are no confirmed host records, but one specimen was reared in association with Zorion sp. (Cerambycidae) on Entelea arborescence . Most specimens in the NZAC have been collected from forested areas, by sweeping, or from malaise traps. Several records indicate capture at night.

Sources of information

Khalaim AI. 2004. New tersilochines from Australia and New Zealand (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae, Tersilochinae). Zoosystematica Rossica 13: 43-45.
Khalaim AI. 2006. New tersilochines from the collection of Natural History Museum, London (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae, Tersilochinae). Zoosystematica Rossica 14: 269-273.

Citation

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

Revised

v1.0. Ward DF & Schnitzler FR. 2013