Copidosoma dius

This record describes Copidosoma dius (species). Recorded family: Encyrtidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Feature	Details
Female	Length 1–1.4mm. Head with metallic, golden green reflections; gena with golden or purple reflections; antenna brown, scape with metallic blue and green reflections; mesoscutum with metallic blue-green reflections, scutellum shiny brown with faint golden reflections; mesopleuron with metallic reflections, faintly green anteriorly, purplish posteriorly; tegula white, apex translucent; forewing very weakly, uniformly infuscate; legs brown, coxae with faint metallic reflections, joints yellowish; gaster brown with faint metallic reflections. Head about 1.8 as wide as frontovertex; ocelli forming an angle of 90 degrees; antenna with scape nearly 6x as long as broad, F1 about 1.5 as long as broad and about 0.9 as long as pedicel, clava solid, oval, the sensorial part extending towards the base for nearly half of its length. Mesoscutum and scutellum with similar sculpture of irregular polygonal cells, these shallower on scutellum; forewing narrow, about 2.5x as long as broad. Gaster with ovipositor not exserted, distinctly curved upwards.
Male	Length 1-1.3mm. Very similar to female but for colour of tegula, structure of antenna and genitalia. Tegula with apex brown; antenna with scape about 5x as long as broad, F1 about 2x as long as broad and just a little longer than pedicel. Unless identified by a recognized expert, explain how the specimen was identified and include photos of key features. Endoparasite of Elachista adscitella, E. albifrontella, E. argentella on Helichotrichon pratense, on Deschampsia caespitosa and on Dactylis sp., E. bisulcella, E. humilis, E. utonella (Elachistidae). Possibly: Coleophora nutantella (Coleophoridae); Dichrorampha plumbana (Tortricidae). Guerrieri, E. & Noyes, J. Revision of the European species of Copidosoma Ratzeburg (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), parasitoids of caterpillars (Lepidoptera). Systematic Entomology, 30, 97-174. No additional images available for this species.

Feature

Details

Female

Length 1–1.4mm. Head with metallic, golden green reflections; gena with golden or purple reflections; antenna brown, scape with metallic blue and green reflections; mesoscutum with metallic blue-green reflections, scutellum shiny brown with faint golden reflections; mesopleuron with metallic reflections, faintly green anteriorly, purplish posteriorly; tegula white, apex translucent; forewing very weakly, uniformly infuscate; legs brown, coxae with faint metallic reflections, joints yellowish; gaster brown with faint metallic reflections. Head about 1.8 as wide as frontovertex; ocelli forming an angle of 90 degrees; antenna with scape nearly 6x as long as broad, F1 about 1.5 as long as broad and about 0.9 as long as pedicel, clava solid, oval, the sensorial part extending towards the base for nearly half of its length. Mesoscutum and scutellum with similar sculpture of irregular polygonal cells, these shallower on scutellum; forewing narrow, about 2.5x as long as broad. Gaster with ovipositor not exserted, distinctly curved upwards.

Male

Length 1-1.3mm. Very similar to female but for colour of tegula, structure of antenna and genitalia. Tegula with apex brown; antenna with scape about 5x as long as broad, F1 about 2x as long as broad and just a little longer than pedicel. Unless identified by a recognized expert, explain how the specimen was identified and include photos of key features. Endoparasite of Elachista adscitella, E. albifrontella, E. argentella on Helichotrichon pratense, on Deschampsia caespitosa and on Dactylis sp., E. bisulcella, E. humilis, E. utonella (Elachistidae). Possibly: Coleophora nutantella (Coleophoridae); Dichrorampha plumbana (Tortricidae). Guerrieri, E. & Noyes, J. Revision of the European species of Copidosoma Ratzeburg (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), parasitoids of caterpillars (Lepidoptera). Systematic Entomology, 30, 97-174. No additional images available for this species.

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Encyrtidae
Genus: Copidosoma

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Diet and Behavior

Life History

Endoparasite of Elachista adscitella, E. albifrontella, E. argentella on Helichotrichon pratense, on Deschampsia caespitosa and on Dactylis sp., E. bisulcella, E. humilis, E. utonella (Elachistidae). Possibly: Coleophora nutantella

Additional species information

Recorded status

Unknown.

About Flies: the wider group

Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Copidosoma dius. Species-specific details appear above.

Group overview

Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).

Ecological role of the group

About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.

Economic and practical significance of the group

Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.

Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.

Explore Hymenoptera families and species →

Photos of Copidosoma dius (2)

Frequently Asked Questions About Copidosoma dius

What is Copidosoma dius?

Copidosoma dius is a species in the family Encyrtidae, within the order Hymenoptera.

How big is Copidosoma dius?

1-1.3mm. Very similar to female but for colour of tegula, structure of antenna and genitalia. Tegula with apex brown; antenna with scape about 5x as long as broad, F1 about 2x as long as broad and just a little longer than pedicel.

What is the life cycle of a Copidosoma dius?