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Cuckoo wasps
are an interesting family as the adults do not sting. They are small
to medium sized wasps ranging from 2 to 22 millimetres in body length.
They have stout bodies and are usually bright metallic green in
colour, although some purple and copper coloured species occur.
The bodies of cuckoo wasps are heavily sclerotised with few visible
segments. This protects them from the jaws of other wasps, which
they hunt. As a defence they are able to roll up into a ball. Adults
can be seen hovering over vegetation and are common on dead tree
trunks and around old timber buildings. The larvae of cuckoo wasps
are external parasites of other wasp species, such as Vespoidea
and Sphecoidea. The larvae consumes the host and then spin a cocoon
within the hosts own cell.
For
more cuckoo wasp species visit the Australian
Insect Common
Names
- Chrysididae section found here.
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