Species introCountry intro
Orchid Dupe Wasp - female (Lissopimpla excelsa)
This elegant ichneumon wasp had orange head, thorax, antennae, legs and last abdominal segment. The other abdominal segments were black with a single white dot on either side of mid line of 4 segments. Wings appeared black as was the medium-sized ovipositor. Antennae were extremely long and slender, curling at the ends.
These wasps are called "orchid dupes" because orchids like Cryptostylis species
mimic the smell of female wasps of this genus thus attracting males of the wasp species and ensuring that pollination occurs.
The females lay their eggs into caterpillars on which the wasp larvae feed on hatching.
''Lissopimpla excelsa'', commonly known as the orchid dupe wasp, is a Wasp of the family Ichneumonidae native to Australia. Although also found in New Zealand it has probably been introduced there. It pollinates all five Australian members of the orchid genus ''Cryptostylis'' . The male wasp mistakes the flower parts for a female wasp and attempts to copulate with it. Although the different species can occur together, they appear to inhibit cross-fertilisation and no hybrids are found in nature... more
