(Chrysis angolensis)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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IUCN Red List | not listed |
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NatureServe | not listed |
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Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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Metallic bluish-green cuckoo wasp is an invasive, parasitic cuckoo wasp. It was introduced into North America, probably during World War II, probably on ships with nests of mud daubers on their wooden beams. It is now widespread across the continent, but especially around the coasts. The head, thorax, and abdomen are bright bluish-green with metallic reflections and coarse sculpturing. The abdomen has of the male has four segments, that of the female has three segments. The exoskeletal plates on the bottom (ventral) side of the abdomen are flattened or concave. On the male, the rim on the last segment of the abdomen has three notches, four teeth, and a row of ten small pits along the edge. On the female the ovipositor is very long and stinger-like, and protrudes from the tip (apex) of the abdomen. There are two large compound eyes, one on each side of the head; and three small simple eyes (ocelli) in a triangular pattern at the top of the head between the compound eyes. The antennae are black, short, and thread-like. They have 13 segments. The wings have reduced venation. The forewing has 5 or fewer closed cells. The hindwing has a distinct lobe at the base and no closed cells. |
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Size |
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¼″ to 7 ⁄16″ |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Biology |
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Season |
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Behavior |
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It curls up into a tight ball when threatened. Despite the long, stinger-like ovipositor, the female does not sting. |
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Life Cycle |
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The female lays eggs in the nest of a host while it is being provisioned but before it is sealed. |
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Larva Food |
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Larvae of black and yellow mud dauber (Sceliphron caementarium) |
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Adult Food |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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5/23/2023 | ||||
Nativity |
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Native to Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Introduced and naturalized in North America. |
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Occurrence |
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Widespread |
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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 |
Aculeata (ants, bees, and stinging wasps) | ||
Superfamily |
Chrysidoidea (cuckoo wasps and allies) | ||
Family |
Chrysididae (cuckoo wasps) | ||
Subfamily | Chrysidinae | ||
Tribe | Chrysidini | ||
Genus |
Chrysis | ||
Synonyms |
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Chrysis fuscipennis |
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Common Names |
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metallic bluish-green cuckoo wasp |
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Glossary
Jugal lobe
In Hymenoptera: The rear lobe at the base of the hindwing.
Ocellus
Simple eye; an eye with a single lens. Plural: ocelli.
Visitor Photos |
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Share your photo of this insect. |
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption. |
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Michelle Clardy |
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This was in our camper which is housed in Hobart, IN and it stung me. |
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Molly Castillo |
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S. Co |
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Demon wasp… One flew over the cuckoo nest |
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Val Weberg |
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My cat was playing with it in my kitchen |
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Jody Johnson |
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found in wood shop |
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Cuckoo Wasp |
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Found at work in a window sill. |
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Steve |
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Stung me in bed while sleeping... I killed it at 3am | ![]() |
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Bill Reynolds |
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Found three drowning Blue-green Metallic Cuckoo Wasps (Chrysis angolensis) in a Hummingbird feeder this morning. Two were already dead and the third was very eager to get out of the stick syrup. Check out that stinger will ya! |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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