General Information

COMMON NAMES: Cuckoo Wasp COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Introduced - Recent, Naturalised; Land, lowlands SIMILAR SPECIES: Jewel Wasp (Ampulex compressa) is much larger to 20mmBL (vs. ~12mm); has anterior thorax tapering (vs broad and blunt); and hindleg thighs are orange (vs dark blue).

Cook Islands Distribution

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Southern Group: Present    Makatea: Present
RR	MG	AT	MK	MT	AK	PL	TK	MN
++		P

Northern Group:
TN	MH	RK	PK	NS	SW
			-

Chrysis QQRR
Query: Species not identified, but close to Chrysis lincea, GMcC 11/2005

TAXONOMY: ANIMALIA; ARTHROPODA; ATELOCERATA; HEXAPODA; INSECTA; PTERYGOTA; Hymenoptera; Apocrita; Aculeata; Chrysidioidea; CHRYSIDIDAE

GENERAL NOTE: The adults lay eggs beside the larvae of mud-nest wasps of Sphecidae and Eumeninae (Vespidae). The wasp can roll itself up into a protective ball if attacked by the nest-building wasp. Other relatives parasitize the eggs and larvae of other insects.

Vouchers:
Rarotonga: specimen+photo, Tupapa, 2003/01, G.McCormack, with ID as Chrysis sp., deposited in BPBM; specimen+photo, Totokoitu, 2004/12, M.Poeschko with ID as Chrysis sp.;

References:
Special Reference: Kuhlmann, M. (2006) Fauna and Biogeography of the Bees and Wasps of the Cook Islands (Hymenoptera Aculeata), J. Hym. Res. 15(1):26-37.

Data Update History (information):
zTX, zB02, zM02, zupM05b

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