Brackenridge Field Laboratory
    At the University of Texas at Austin

     2907 Lake Austin Boulevard : Austin, TX 78703 : 512/471-2114

leaf veins
leaf veins
 

Provisional Checklist of the Leucospidae
Of Brackenridge Field Laboratory

Prepared by R.W. Patrock (2 May 1989)
Determinations by R. Askew
(University of Manchester, U.K.)

The Leucospids are relatively large, yellow-black chalcid wasps that parasitize aculeate Hymenoptera. The female drills through the cell wall of the host's nest to deposit her egg. Upon hatching, the larvae actively searches out its host and if successful, attaches itself externally to feed. Pupation occurs inside the nest's cell. Adults are often taken by sweeping flowers upon which they feed.

There are four genera worldwide, of which only one genus, Leucospis is found in the Nearctic. This is by far the largest genus with over 100 species on all continents. Five species are known from the United States and Canada.

This checklist is a result of the BFL Parasitic Hymenoptera workshops held 22 and 29 April 1989.
Species
 
Notes
  • 1. Leucospa affinis affinis Say
 April-June. Fairly common at BFL. Hosts: Megachiline bees.
  • 2. L. texana Cresson
 Recorded from Austin1 Biology unknown.

References

1Boucek, Z. 1974. A revision of the Leucospidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of the world.
Krombein, K.V., P.D. Hurd, D.R. Smith, and B.D. Burks. 1979. Catalog of Hymenoptera in America North of Mexico. pp. 874-5. Smithsonian Inst. Press. Washington, D.C.

 
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