Campopleginae

Description

Campopleginae is a large and rather homogeneous subfamily. The abdomen is often partially red or yellow while the rest of the body is as a rule (with a few exceptions) completely black. The subfamily is recognized by the distinctly petiolate first abdominal segment, notched ovipositor, usually complete posterior transverse carina and single bulla on the fore wing vein 2m-cu. Additional useful charaters include the distinctly laterally compressed abdomen, the face usually being covered by distinct silvery setae and the often iridescent eyes in living specimens. The length and shape of the ovipositor vary greatly.

Campoplegines are most likely to be confused with the closely related subfamily Cremastinae, which can be distinguished by the spurs of the hind tibia being inserted into separate sockets, a unique character among Ichneumonidae (spurs of hind tibia are inserted in the same socket in Campopleginae). Cremastines additionally have the body extensively marked with yellow in most cases (which is as previously mentioned rare in Campopleginae) and longitudal microsculpture on the abdomen (which is absent in Campopleginae).

Ecology

Most campoplegines are solitary koinobiont endoparasitoids of Lepidoptera, though rarer hosts include Coleoptera, Symphyta, Raphidioptera and reportedly terrestrial Trichoptera. The host is usually attacked early in its development. Most species kill their host in its larval stage, more rarely as a prepupa. Several genera that pupate outside their hosts spin distinctive cocoons, the form and color of which can be remarkably diagnostic. Overwintering usually occurs in an overwintering host larva or in an cocoon, though its likely that overwintering adults occurs commonly.