Itoplectis conquisitor
This record describes Itoplectis conquisitor (species). Recorded family: Ichneumonidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Female with forelegs fulvous. often whitish above; middle legs fulvous, tibiae often darker above, with a premedian white band, tarsi white with dark apices; hind legs with the femora fulvous, tibiae dark with a submedian white band, and tarsi white with dark apices. Abdominal tergites with narrow apical white bands (not tan or dark as in allies) and ovipositor about 2.2x the length of the first tergite. Male similar in coloration but with fore coxae, fore trochanters, and middle trochanters whitish rather than fulvous. One of the most common of all North American ichneumonid species -- Bob Carlson
Wikipedia reference for Itoplectis conquisitor: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itoplectis_conquisitor.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Ichneumonoidea
- Family
- Ichneumonidae (Ichneumonid Wasps)
- Subfamily
- Pimplinae
- Tribe
- Pimplini
- Genus
- Itoplectis
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
PE s. to FL, w. to BC and CA; Mexico s.to Ecuador.
Seasonal Activity
Adults from spring to late fall
Diet and Behavior
Diet: The hosts of this species are very numerous and include many species of Lepidoptera as well as some species of other Ichneumonidae that parasitize Lepidoptera, which indicates that the species is at least sometimes hyperparasitic. Among the known hosts of the species are the bagworm Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis and the crambid genus Herpetogramma , but there have been many rearings from economically important genera like Choristoneura and Rhyacionia .
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Itoplectis conquisitor. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Itoplectis conquisitor
What is Itoplectis conquisitor?
Itoplectis conquisitor is a species in the family Ichneumonidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Itoplectis conquisitor?
Female with forelegs fulvous. often whitish above; middle legs fulvous, tibiae often darker above, with a premedian white band, tarsi white with dark apices; hind legs with the femora fulvous, tibiae dark with a submedian white band, and tarsi white with dark apices. Abdominal tergites with narrow apical white bands (not tan or dark as in allies) and ovipositor about 2.2x the length of the first tergite. Male similar in coloration but with fore coxae, fore trochanters, and middle trochanters whitish rather than fulvous.
Where is Itoplectis conquisitor found?
Range: PE s. to FL, w. to BC and CA; Mexico s.to Ecuador.
What does Itoplectis conquisitor eat?
The diet of the Itoplectis conquisitor includes The hosts of this species are very numerous and include many species of Lepidoptera as well as some species of other Ichneumonidae that parasitize Lepidoptera, which indicates that the species is at least sometimes hyperparasitic. Among the known hosts of the species are the bagworm Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis and the crambid genus Herpetogramma , but there have been many rearings from economically important genera like Choristoneura and Rhyacionia ..
When is Itoplectis conquisitor active?
Itoplectis conquisitor: seasonal activity - Adults from spring to late fall.