Ophion luteus

Appearance

Fore wing length 12–15 mm. Antenna with 47–53 flagellomeres. First flagellomere about 4.0 times as long as wide.

Central flagellomeres about 1.5–1.6 times as long as wide. Subapical flagellomeres approximately 1.5 times as long as wide. Temple buccate.

Head in lateral view with temple about 0.8–0.9 times as long as compound eye in both females and males. Gap between compound eye and lateral ocellus always distinct, 0.3–0.4 times the diameter of ocellus.

Ocelli small. Central ocellus in female in anterior view as wide as distance between central ocellus and inner eye margins. Malar space about 0.3–0.4 times as long as mandibular base in female and about 0.5 times in male.

Mandibles often worn, usually with the gap between teeth acute angled and internal angles absent, but specimens from coastal localities in Southern Sweden frequently with internal angles present.

Wing membrane transparent. Ramellus usually short, reaching 0.1–0.3 times the width of the discosubmarginal cell. Radius sinuous. Structure of mesopleuron in most cases shining or weakly shagreened with distinct, very regular punctation consisting of small punctures. Interstices between punctures about equal to their diameter. Epicnemial carina, in antero-ventral view, with pleurosternal angles obviously anterior to sternal angles. Pleurosternal angles rounded, obtuse to right angled.

Scutellum without distinct lateral carinae. Propodeum posterior to anterior transverse carina mostly shining. Anterior transverse carina always present centrally anterior to area superomedia, but often also present laterally though rarely strongly raised. Posterior transverse carina usually only present laterally, widely interrupted centrally. Legs normal with hind femur about 6.0–6.5 times as long as wide. Hind trochantellus usually as long as wide in dorsal view. Inner spur of hind tibia long about 0.3–0.4 times as long as first hind tarsal segment. Sclerotised part of first sternite ending level to spiracle.

Body testaceous. Mandibular teeth black. Head with inner and outer orbits yellow. Ovipositor sheath testaceous, concolourous with posterior metasomal segments.

Naming

Ophion luteus ( Linnaeus, 1758)
Ichneumon luteus Linnaeus, 1758
Ophion distansThomson, 1888

Distribution

In Europe, Ophion luteus (Linnaeus) is a widely distributed, often common, nocturnal ichneumonid, and a conspicuous visitor to light traps in August and September.

Rare but widespread in Southern Sweden and the southern parts of Central Sweden.

Behavior

Ophion luteus is active in late spring and during early summer, May–June in a variety of habitats.

Habitat

Habitat: nocturnal woodland and farmland, often found in light traps.

Reproduction

Hosts: hart and dart moth caterpillars (Agrotis exclamationis).