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Cuckoo Wasp

Vespula austriaca

Classification

Class
Insecta
Family
Vespidae

Commonly referred to as cuckoo wasps or emerald wasps, the hymenopteran family Chrysididae is a very large cosmopolitan group (over 3000 described species) of parasitoid or kleptoparasitic wasps, often highly sculptured, with brilliant metallic colors created by structural coloration. They are most diverse in desert regions of the world, as they are typically associated with solitary bee and wasp species, which are also most diverse in such areas. Their brood parasitic lifestyle has led to the evolution of fascinating adaptations, including chemical mimicry of host odors by some species.

Distribution

(c) Magne Flåten, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · CC-BY-SA
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Countries in the Picchu catalog
United Kingdom · 6France · 2