The genus Pelecinus is the only living member of the family Pelecinidae (there are also many fossil genera),[1] and contains only three species, restricted to the New World. One species, Pelecinus polyturator, occurs from North through South America, and the others occur in Mexico (Pelecinus thoracicus) and South America (Pelecinus dichrous). The females are glossy wasps, very long (up to 7 cm) and the abdomen is extremely attenuated, used to lay eggs directly on scarab larvae buried in the soil.[2]
| Pelecinus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Pelecinus polyturator | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Superfamily: | Proctotrupoidea |
| Family: | Pelecinidae |
| Genus: | Pelecinus Latreille, 1800 |
| Species | |
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References
edit- ^ Michael S. Engel; David A. Grimaldi (June 2006). "A Diminutive Pelecinid Wasp in Cretaceous Amber from New Jersey (Hymenoptera: Pelecinidae)". Northeastern Naturalist. 13 (2): 291–297. doi:10.1656/1092-6194(2006)13[291:ADPWIC]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 1092-6194. Wikidata Q54610857.
- ^ N.F. Johnson; L. Musetti (October 1999). "Revision of the proctotrupoid genus Pelecinus Latreille (Hymenoptera: Pelecinidae)". Journal of Natural History. 33 (10): 1513–1543. doi:10.1080/002229399299879. ISSN 0022-2933. Wikidata Q60357693.
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