Laelius utilis

Laelius utilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Bethylidae
Genus: Laelius
Species:
L. utilis
Binomial name
Laelius utilis
Cockerell, 1920

Laelius utilis is a hymenopteran parasitoid in the family Bethylidae. It is a gregarious idiobiont larval ectoparasitoid of the larger cabinet beetle, Trogoderma inclusum, a small beetle in the family Dermestidae. It has been reported from the USA (District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Virginia) and Canada (Ontario).[1]

Laelius utilis and Laelius centratus look very similar. However, the three central propodeal carinae are complete in L. centratus but only the median carina is complete in L. utilis.[2]

References

  1. ^ Krombein, Karl V. (1979). Catalog of Hymenoptera in America north of Mexico. Washington, Smithsonian Institution Press. pp. 1211–1212.
  2. ^ Muesebeck, Carl F. W. (1939). "The North American species of the genus Laelius Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae)" (PDF). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 52: 171–175.