Ichneumonid wasps
(Cratichneumon spp.)
Overview • Description • Distribution • Taxonomy
Overview |
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Cratichneumon is a relatively large genus of ichneumonid wasps. It occurs in Europe and North America. There are 129 known Cratichneumon species worldwide, 77 species in North America north of Mexico, and at least 11 species in Minnesota. In the United States, most species occur in the east, and most species in the west remain undescribed. |
Description |
Cratichneumon wasps vary considerably in size. The plate on the face above the upper lip (clypeus) is flat. On the last segment of the thorax (propodeum), the front margin does not have a protuberance (tubercle) in the middle. The posterior transverse carina (PTC) is strongly narrowed above (dorsally). The first segment (tergite) of the rear part of the body (metasoma) has a narrowed front part (petiole) and a widened rear part (postpetiole). The postpetiole is usually granulate, occasionally smooth. It is rarely finely wrinkled (rugulose), and rarely both pitted and finely wrinkled (punctate-rugulose). On the second metasomal tergite, there is a small, transverse groove or pit (gastrocoeli). The gastrocoeli is shallow. There is also a pair of small, pale, oval pits (thyridia). The thyridia are narrow but well developed. On males it is pushed back from the front margin of the second tergite. On the female, the tip of the metasoma is pointed, and the ovipositor is short, not strongly projecting beyond the tip. |
Distribution |
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Sources Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 8/26/2025). |
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| 8/26/2025 | ||
Occurrence |
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Taxonomy |
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Order |
Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies) |
Suborder |
Apocrita (narrow-waisted wasps, ants, and bees) |
Infraorder |
Terebrantes |
Superfamily |
Ichneumonoidea (ichneumonid and braconid wasps) |
Family |
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Subfamily |
Ichneumoninae |
Tribe |
Ichneumonini |
Subordinate Taxa |
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ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon annulatus) ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon flavipectus) ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon paratus) ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon piceipes) ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon rubricus) ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon sublatus) ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon unifasciatorius) ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon vaccinii) ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon vescus) ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon vinnulus) ichneumon wasp (Cratichneumon w-album) |
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Synonyms |
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Common Names |
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This genus has no common name. The common name of the family Ichneumonidae is ichneumonid wasps, and it is applied here for convenience. |
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Glossary
Clypeus
On insects, a hardened plate on the face above the upper lip (labrum).
Metasoma
In Hymenoptera: the armored rear part of the body, consisting of the second segment of the abdomen and all segments posterior to it.
Propodeum
In Hymenoptera: the last segment of the thorax, anatomically the first segment of the abdomen.
Tergite
The upper (dorsal), hardened plate on a segment of the thorax or abdomen of an arthropod or myriapod.
Tubercle
On plants and animals: a small, rounded, raised projection on the surface. On insects and spiders: a low, small, usually rounded, knob-like projection. On slugs: raised areas of skin between grooves covering the body.
Visitor Photos |
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Dan W. Andree |
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Ichneumon Wasp... |
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I seen it at Frenchman's Bluff SNA recently. It almost looks like it has eyes on top of its head. I have a few more images of it from different angles etc. This one was small and quick. Guessing it's a male since females have that long stinger tail thing. Interesting insect. It certainly made use of those antennae almost constantly moving them as it moved along in quick jerky movements. |
from a different angle…. It rarely stood completely still. Always a leg or antennae moving it seemed. Interesting features and coloration. Ants sometimes would get aggressive toward it but the wasp was to quick to take flight and would just land on a different area of the shrub they were all on at the time. |
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Alfredo Colon |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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Other Videos |
Ichneumon (Ichneumonidae: Cratichneumon) Female on Grassblade |
About
Published on Jun 12, 2010 Photographed at Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (11 June 2010). |
Visitor Sightings |
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Dan W. Andree |
Location: Frenchman’s Bluff SNA |
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| Alfredo Colon 7/31/2018 |
Location: Woodbury, MN |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: Created: 4/12/2019 Last Updated: © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved. |