Biology:Chrysura hirsuta

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Short description: Species of insect

Chrysura hirsuta
Chrysura hirsuta.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Chrysididae
Genus: Chrysura
Species:
C. hirsuta
Binomial name
Chrysura hirsuta
Gerstäcker,1869

Chrysura hirsuta, also known as the Northern Osmia ruby-tailed wasp, is a species of parasitic cuckoo wasp within the family Chrysididae.

Description

Chrysura hirsuta can range in length from 7 to 11 mm long. The head and mesosoma of the wasp are blue or dark green in colour, with a possible presence of golden green reflection. The metasoma of the wasp however is golden red or in rare circumstances golden green in colour. The mandibles possess a sizeable subapical tooth and the scutellum of the metathorax is flat. The flight period of C. hirsuta is between April and July.[1] This species is believed to reproduce via thelytokous parthenogenesis, due to a higher female to male sex ratio.[2]

Distribution

Chrysura hirsuta can be found within the Trans-Palearctic region from Western Europe through to East Asia. The species has been recorded in the countries and territories of: Albania, Austria, Belarus , Belgium, Czech Republic, Corsica, China , Estonia, Finland , France , Germany , Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan , Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway , Sweden, Slovakia, Switzerland , Poland and the United Kingdom .[3][1][4]

C. hirsuta has also been found living within the Pyrenees mountain range.[3]

Habitat

Chrysura hirsuta can be found living in a variety of habitats including mountains,[3] meadows, woodlands and glades.[1] Due to being a parasitic species, their populations can only survive in proximity to a population of their mason bee host species. C. hirsuta are often found flying in close proximity to drystone walls,[3] rocky outcrops and dead wood,[1] which are places their host species are known to build their nests.

Host species

The following species are known to be hosts for the Northern Osmia ruby-tailed wasp.[1][5]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q14625726 entry