Campopleginae

Campopleginae Förster, 1868

Description

Campopleginae is a large and rather homogeneous subfamily. The abdomen is often 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 vein 2m-cu. Additional useful characters include the distinctly laterally compressed abdomen, the face usually being covered by distinct silvery setae and the often green and 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).

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 host larvae or cocoons.