Description of Sphecophaga orientalis sp. n. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Cryptinae), a potential parasitoid of Vespula spp. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae) in New Zealand.

Abstract

A Sphecophaga imported from Israel as a possible biological agent against the adventive social wasps Vespula germanica (F.) the German wasp, and Vespula vulgaris (L.) the common wasp, is described on the basis of morphological, genetic and biological comparisons with the European S. vesparum vesparum (Curtis) and the North American S. v. burra (Cresson) as a new species, Sphecophaga orientalis. The new species maintains its morphological differences when propagated on V. germanica and V. vulgaris. In the field only V. germanica has been attacked. Keys are provided to adults of all three taxa released in New Zealand, and to the cocoons that are characteristic of those that are likely to be found on host wasps should S. v. burra and S. orientalis establish.

Keywords:

• Sphecophaga orientalis
• description
• social wasp parasitoid