About the wasp wasp: are parasitic wasps with a long tail dangerous for humans?

Insect riders: general information

The description of these parasites is quite interesting. The diversity of insect forms is combined with the abundance of their varieties. The largest species reaches 5 cm in length, and the smallest – up to 0.5 mm. Riders have long antennae, their bodies are very thin. They are often black with gold and red patterns. Most pests have colorless wings, but wingless specimens can also be found. Females carry an ovipositor on the back side, which can even exceed the length of their body.

Wasp rider: photo of insect

The ichneumon wasp in Russia is represented by small-sized individuals, as can be seen if you look at a photo of the insect. The body length of the smallest representatives is 3 mm, and the largest individuals can reach 3 cm. Representatives of the genus live in the tropics, which have significantly larger body sizes. The color of insects also varies from a translucent shade to a rich black color.

Characteristic external features of the ichneumon wasp:

• long elongated abdomen;
• transparent wings of small thickness like those of a dragonfly;
• thin waist;
• a few species have a long tail.

Some members of the family lack wings and look more like ants.

Similar types of insects

Knowing what a hornet looks like, you can still confuse it with similar winged brothers. These could be wasps, bumblebees, and other types of hornets. The Scolia wasp has a number of differences: it is larger in size and can reach 6 cm in length. Males are slightly smaller than females. But you should focus not only on size.

• Scolia is distinguished by large yellow spots, located on the abdomen in two rows.
• Also, the head has a different color, it is yellow, while the black hornet does not have such “decorations”.
• If you remember about the places where black hornets are found, you can understand that it cannot be found in the central part of Russia. Accordingly, in front of the observer, most likely, it is scolia.

Given these features, it is easy to distinguish between the two insects. An inexperienced observer may confuse a bumblebee and a hornet, or mistake it for a wasp. But the latter has a clearly defined waist, while the bumblebee has a rounded body. In addition, Scolia is distinguished from other similar insects by its gigantic size.

Description and features

People for the most part do not like insects and treat them with arrogant disgust. Of course, compared to us, the highly developed inhabitants of the planet, at first glance they seem primitive, unpleasant, often annoying, and sometimes even downright disgusting. But still, the world of insects is a whole universe of amazing creatures worthy of the pen of a science fiction writer.

After all, each of these creatures has its own unique abilities. For example, the hero of our story, the insect rider, is endowed by nature with the interesting property of turning its own kind, that is, representatives of the class of insects and other arthropods, into real zombies. We have to find out how this happens and why riders need it.

Such creatures can be very small, barely noticeable, less than 1 mm in size. But there are also huge varieties in comparison with babies, reaching a length of up to 5 cm. In appearance, equestrians are very diverse. At a superficial glance at representatives of individual species, you can mistake them for ordinary beetles.

In fact, these are more likely wasps, and even look similar to them, but instead of a sting on the back, they have a very noticeable ovipositor, pointed at the end, often comparable in size, and sometimes even larger (in special cases 7.5 times ) of the insects themselves, but in some cases very tiny.

With the help of this organ, these creatures place eggs in the bodies of their victims, and only in this way are they able to exist, develop and continue their race. Ultimately, the life activity of equestrians most often turns out to be useful for humans.

Although, in fact, for arthropods they are very dangerous parasites, and therefore they are often called parasitic wasps. According to the systematization of living organisms, they belong to the stalked bellies. This order includes the same wasps, as well as bumblebees, bees, and ants. And therefore it turns out that these are the closest relatives of the riders.

The body of the described creatures is elongated in shape and is supported by six thin legs. These insects have a small head, equipped with long antennae extended forward like antennae.

These devices help them recognize their surroundings. The riders are hymenoptera , and therefore representatives of most species have membranous, elongated, transparent wings with a brown or grayish tint, mottled with veins. But there are also wingless varieties, which are very reminiscent of ants.

Other riders, due to the abundance of different colors inherent in them, are often confused with related bees, as well as with a number of other insects. Riders come in bright red, orange, spotted, and striped colors. But the most common body color is predominantly black, complemented by bright, different shades of transitions.

Mistaking ichneumon wasps for wasps, people are often frightened by their huge ovipositor, believing that it is a terrifying sting that is poisonous to humans. But this opinion is wrong. By the way, only females have this terrible organ, and the male half is naturally deprived of it, as well as, of course, the ability to lay eggs.

Features of character and lifestyle

Photo: Bumblebee Wasp

The lifestyle of this animal depends on the species. The life of solitary wasps can be called monotonous. They are actively engaged in preparing reserves for offspring. To do this, they place the paralyzed prey in the nest so that the larvae can feed on it. Further, the offspring will develop independently, without the help of their parents.

Social wasps live more interesting lives. In the spring, the queen looks for a place to create a “house”. There she lays eggs. When the larvae appear, the queen takes care of them. The first brood grows up over time and relieves its parent of worries. They take on all the responsibilities for obtaining food and building a house. The queen continues to increase the number of colonies.

There is an opinion that stinging insects spend the night sleeping. But that's not true! These animals never sleep. With the onset of darkness, their natural activity simply decreases. Wasps prefer to spend their nights in their nests, chewing bark. When morning comes, the adults begin building new honeycombs.

The character of most representatives of this species is very bad. Wasps are not the first to attack without doing anything, but they will definitely sting if you disturb them even a little. In this case, the smell of the secreted poison can be smelled by relatives of the insect. Then the person or animal who disturbed the wasp will be in big trouble. Wasps can band together and face danger together.

Lifestyle and habitat of long-tailed wasps

The predominant habitat of most of the 100 thousand species of ichneumon wasps present today is the tropics. In temperate latitudes (in Russia) only a few varieties can be found. What they all have in common is the laying of eggs or larvae on or directly into the body of caterpillars and other insects. Not everyone is capable of stinging.

Wasp wasps do not look too threatening, especially those found in Russia. Their size ranges from 3 mm to 3 cm in length, and the chance of meeting the largest representatives is extremely low due to their extreme rarity. All types have different colors: from translucent to rich black.

Wasp rider

For your information! The insect has 6 legs, an elongated abdomen ending in a sharp ovipositor, a thin waist, transparent or colored wings, most similar to the wings of a dragonfly. There are species of wasps without wings at all, very similar to ants. A wasp with a long tail looks interesting.

Riders do not have a sting. Instead, there is a long ovipositor. However, the insect is quite capable of causing harm, since a special poisonous secretion is released from the ovipositor. Having pierced the skin of the enemy with its sharp end, the wasp injects poison, which has a paralyzing effect, although it does not pose a danger to the life of the insect. All riders are parasites, which are divided into 3 groups:

• ectoparasites that attach eggs and larvae to the body surface of other arthropods;
• endoparasites that introduce eggs into the body of other insects, using paralyzing poison;
• superparasites that are capable of infecting their own kind.

Description of appearance

The ichneumon wasp is considered a hymenopteran predator and parasite that attacks other insects for the purpose of reproduction. The size of this arthropod is small - from 3 mm to 3 cm. In color they can be yellow, black, striped, brown, gray. Representatives of this species have 6 legs, an elongated abdomen, a thin waist, long transparent wings and antennae. Some individuals cannot fly and look very much like ants.

This is interesting! During the process of laying eggs, the wasp assumes a position on top of the victim, like a rider on a horse. It is because of this feature that it got its name.

Long-tailed wasps do not have a stinger, but instead have an ovipositor. With its help, the rider transfers her eggs and plants them in the victim. The parasite can lay offspring in the body of another insect or under the skin. The predator also has glands that secrete a toxic poison that temporarily paralyzes the victim.

Habitat and lifestyle

Most species of ichneumon live in tropical climates. Only a few representatives are able to coexist in Russian latitudes: mimarommatids, mutilids, gallworms, chalcids, evanioid wasps, typhiids. Most often, the parasite can be found in places of high humidity: rivers, swamps, bets. In agriculture, proctotrupe parasites are used to control pests.

Long-tailed wasps are diurnal and at night they hide in the grass, under leaves and tree bark. They identify their prey by smell, sound and subtle vibrations in the air. The parasite is not aggressive, but during the breeding season it flies out to hunt.

This is interesting! Riders do not form nests and do not gather in one place as a whole family. After all, the female needs to constantly be in search of a potential victim and roam. The exception is pompilids (living in the USA), which settle in the ground near roads.

Wasp protection

In general, the wasp species cannot be called endangered, so it is not listed in the Red Book. Only certain species are recognized by scientists as endangered in specific regions. For example, the forest wasp is included in the Red Book of the Moscow Region. In the Moscow region it is represented in small quantities. Wood wasps usually live in forests. These animals are rarely seen in human buildings.

The main reason for the decline in the forest wasp population is the harmful influence of humans. This is the main factor. People deliberately destroy nests. Also, the state of the population is greatly influenced by unfavorable weather conditions. This is due to the characteristics of nesting. These insects sometimes build their houses in open areas, on trees. Even a heavy rainfall can easily damage their homes.

Natural enemies and high competition from other species have some influence on the number of forest wasps. These animals often become victims of birds, parasites, and predatory insects. Due to the existing danger of changes in the population of forest wasps, this type of insect was listed in the Red Book of the Moscow Region. Today, the habitats of these animals are carefully protected. It is also planned to create new natural protected areas in the near future.

The wasp is an amazing representative of the fauna. Their life is quite short, but very interesting. In their short life, wasps manage to build a house, raise offspring, and some species help humans quickly and without chemicals get rid of garden pests. Also, not all wasps are as aggressive as is commonly believed. Many species are quite peaceful and will never sting a person without reason.

Life cycle and mechanism of influence on the victim

The ichneumon wasp is a solitary insect; it makes its nest directly in the ground or in plant stems or tree bark. Its lifespan, as a rule, is short: for females it is about a month, and for males it is no more than 10 days. In some species, the larvae can overwinter in the body of the prey host and pupate only in the spring.

For the most part, adults are not carnivores, that is, they do not feed on other insects; For some species, nectar serves as food. But the larvae can be considered true parasites, given how reproduction occurs.

Female wasps lay eggs on the bodies or larvae of ants, wasps, beetles, caterpillars, spiders and even scorpions, on which the hatching larvae feed. During the process of laying eggs, the female parasite sits on top of her victim, resembling a rider on a horse, which gives the name to this entire family.

This parasitic insect has an amazing sense of smell, which allows it to sense even through the thickness of tree bark whether there are beetle larvae there on which to lay eggs.

By laying their eggs on the body of the victim, the females inject it with a paralyzing poison, turning it into a “zombie”. It takes less than a day for about two dozen larvae to hatch on a victim, and only a few days for them to go through all stages of development.

Throughout this period, they feed on the body of their “master”, while maintaining the viability of his body; it dies from exhaustion only before the time comes for the larvae to pupate.

Types of gadflies

Depending on the type of animal on which the female gadfly lays eggs, and the place where it will be laid, the insect is divided into species.

Subcutaneous gadfly

The subcutaneous (skin) type of gadfly has another name - bovine. Females lay eggs on the fur of cattle (mainly cows). After which the larvae, feeling the warmth, emerge from the cocoon and dig into the skin of the animal, thus making their way to the soft tissues and organs. At the stage of transformation into a cocoon, the parasite gnaws holes through the skin (fistula, fistula) to access oxygen and then settles for a while. After a certain period of time, he climbs out through them already in the form of an adult, capable of reproduction.

Gastric gadfly

The gastric, or equine, type of insect tends to parasitize horses and donkeys. Compared to the subcutaneous gadfly, this species reproduces using a different method. Females lay their eggs near the animal’s mouth, or on grass reserved for food. As a result, the larva quickly enters the esophagus, and then the gastric tract, where it then actively feeds. It comes out along with excrement. Individuals infected with this species often develop stomach and oral ulcers.

Cavity view

Representatives of the cavitary species are capable of parasitizing not only animals, but also humans. They are viviparous. Females inject live larvae into the area of ​​the eyes, mouth or nostrils in flight. Once inside, they settle on the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx or eyes. When moving, the larva is able to reach the frontal sinus, and there are frequent cases of penetration into the skull. Already formed pupae leave the body by sneezing or coughing. The consequences of such infections manifest themselves in the form of loss of vision, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, ophthalmomyasis, etc.

The gadfly is not only an intrusive large fly, but a rather dangerous insect that can cause harm to both animals and humans. Different methods of laying eggs allow these parasites to actively evolve in any part of the victim’s body. Therefore, in order to avoid personal contact with them and protect farmland, it is worth using various means of protection. And if it was not possible to protect yourself from infection, then it is better to immediately seek the help of qualified personnel.

Kinds

The species diversity of such parasites is truly enormous. There are more than a dozen superfamilies into which they are united. species of riders themselves amounts to hundreds of thousands. It is impossible to describe them all, so it is better to talk in general terms about some of the most common or distinctive groups of these insects.

Representatives of the chalcid superfamily are quite small, in some cases even microscopic in size. Some species are so tiny that they cannot be seen with the naked eye. And it’s not surprising, because the length of especially small ones does not exceed 0.2 mm.

Their color varies. But all varieties (it is assumed that there are about half a million of them in nature, although only 22,000 of them have been truly described by biologists) have one common feature: the structure of the wings, which have only two veins. From a scientific point of view, such creatures are interesting because they parasitize not only small representatives of the fauna, but also plants.

The chalcid superfamily is in turn divided into families, some of which will be listed below. It should be noted that they themselves include many varieties.

• Leucopids in color, black with yellow stripes and spots, and body shape with an elongated, convex abdomen, are very similar to wasps, which, by the way, they parasitize. Their antennae are short, but placed on a large head. Such creatures are quite noticeable to the eye, on average about 7 mm. Also parasitizing bees, these riders harm apiaries.

• On the contrary, aphelinids turn out to be very useful because they destroy aphids and scale insects. They rarely exceed 5 mm in size. These creatures have powerful jaws, a narrowed head, and small fringed wings.

• The agonids are comparable in size to the previous group. In males of certain species, underdevelopment of wings and one of the three pairs of legs is observed. These are plant parasites that place their eggs in figs.

• Trichogrammatids are millimeter-long babies. This group is very useful, as it destroys agricultural pests, in particular codling moths and cabbage moths, in addition – bedbugs, dragonflies, butterflies, and beetles.

• Aphelinus. This is the name of a genus of fairly large representatives from the aphelinid family. These creatures have a black color, in some cases with a yellow pattern. The sizes of such riders are on average centimeter. Due to their benefits for garden crops, these insects were deliberately brought to Europe from America. Destroy blood aphids and other pests. The single egg they lay in their prey turns it into a dried-out mummy as it grows.

• Plum seed eater, about 3 mm in size. Its body is green, its antennae and legs are yellow. The name itself suggests that such creatures are garden pests. In addition to plums, they infect the seeds of apple and pear trees.

• The plum beetle is a black insect with yellow legs, about 5 mm in size. Lays eggs in plums, apricots, cherries, and very often in cherry plums and almonds, thereby destroying them. The wings of these creatures have not even two, but one vein.

Now let's introduce some members of other superfamilies. Without a doubt, they are numerous and varied, like the entire world of insects. Most of these riders are useful. They help many plants and free the environment from pests.

• Rissa is a black ichneumon, but with yellow stripes on the abdomen, and has a huge ovipositor. This is a forest orderly that kills wood pests: horntails, beetles, longhorned beetles and others. It detects its victims by smell, and its larvae eat their internal organs.

• Panisk looks like a huge black mosquito with red legs. Protects grain crops by parasitizing their pests. In addition, it infects moth caterpillars with its eggs.

• The Ephialtes Emperor is a gigantic specimen of an equestrian, of course in comparison with its smaller relatives. Its body reaches a size of 3 cm, but the size of the ovipositor is even larger. He himself has an elongated dark red abdomen, a black body and red legs. Destroys wood pests.

It is possible to systematize equestrians not only by species and families. As parasites, they are grouped according to how they infect their victims. Here it should be taken into account that it is not the adults who are afraid of the victims.

The attackers do not directly take part in the destruction, but only their eggs, which develop inside and outside the so-called hosts and feed on them. And therefore we can distinguish the following groups of riders, without exception, all species of which are parasites:

• ectoparasites attach their clutches to the outside of the victim’s body or simply leave them close to its eggs, and infect mainly pests hiding deep inside trees and fruits;
• endoparasites make their clutches in the internal tissues of the victim, their larvae develop longer than those of the previous group, but as they grow, they most often leave only an external, surrounding void, shell with the hosts; all the insides are eaten.

Description of the insect

Appearance

A noticeable narrowing in the upper part of the insect's abdomen forms the waist. The abdomen itself is covered with a small number of smooth, straightened hairs and is colored with alternating black and yellow stripes. The long hind legs of a flying wasp hang low and dangle in the air when flying.

The wasp has two pairs of wings. When the insect is at rest, its folded front wings are pressed tightly against the body.

On the sides of the wasp's head there are two reticulated eyes, protruding far beyond the stigma area. The mesh structure of the visual organs allows the insect to look simultaneously in all directions. In addition to the reticulated eyes, the wasp has three more single-pupil eyes located at the top of its head. There are also antennae-antennae, which perform a number of functions: tactile, olfactory and gustatory.

Habitat

The historical homeland of real wasps is the western United States, from where they were brought to the Hawaiian Islands.

Currently, about 1,000 species of true wasps have been found in the Palaearctic, a region that includes Europe, the territories north of the Himalayan Mountains excluding the Arabian Peninsula, and the area from North Africa to the southern tip of the Sahara. Insects are also common in Canada and Mexico, and are found in Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and Argentina.

About 150 species of true wasps have been discovered in Russia.

Reproduction

Wasps begin mating in early autumn, and in the spring the queen builds a nest.

Solitary wasps lay one or more cells. They lay eggs there, place a supply of food and seal the cell.

Social wasps, after building the first cell, lay an egg and continue construction. After some time, larvae hatch from the first eggs laid. The uterus feeds them with a secretion produced in the crop, then with protein food consisting of dismembered insects. The larvae pupate and after some time turn into worker wasps. Workers help the queen complete the hive and feed the larvae.

Nutrition

Wasp larvae are practically omnivorous: they eat jam, nectar, killed larvae, caterpillars, and pieces of meat brought by adults.

Adult insects prefer liquid food. They drink honey, kvass, compote, wine, and sweet fruit juice. When killing an insect, wasps suck out the hemolymph from it, and after saturation, they carry the remains to the larvae.

Nest building

Depending on the subspecies, real wasps use different materials to build their nests. Pill wasps attach clay hives, shaped like jugs, to tree branches. Paper wasps scrape the top soft layer from the wood, chew it and make a nest from a gray sticky composition, placing it mainly in the attics of houses, barns or garages. Some species leave larvae in burrows without bothering to build hives.

Wintering

After mating is completed, male real wasps die, and the same thing happens with worker wasps. Fertilized females hide from the cold in rotten stumps, in the trunks of rotten trees, in the cracks of buildings, under boards. The body of females produces a substance that reduces the freezing point. This prevents the destruction of insect body cells. Sudden temperature changes and thaws are destructive for wasps, so only a few individuals survive until spring. When the average daily temperature rises to 15°C, the surviving females leave their wintering grounds and rush in search of places suitable for nesting.

Harm and benefit

By attacking pests of trees and plants, riders provide significant assistance in their extermination. Some species of these beneficial insects are even protected by the state as valuable helpers. They control the number of harmful insects, thereby establishing balance in nature.

Thanks to the work and active participation of parasitic riders in the destruction of harmful insects, agricultural workers and ordinary plot owners can reduce the use of toxic substances and chemicals in their beds. This has a positive effect on the quality of the harvest and the environmental situation.

Often riders can be found in warehouses of grain and bulk products. There they look for their victims - barn worms and food moths. In rare cases, if they fail, they can lay eggs in food products, which will lead to damage to the goods and damage to humans. But, given the number of pests destroyed, minor sabotage on the part of the parasitic rider will not spoil its image in the eyes of people. Therefore, when you see these strange insects with a long sting-tail in your garden or garden, do not rush to destroy them.

Why is a hornet dangerous for humans?

Insect venom contains a number of toxic substances that can act not only at the site of the bite, but also affect the entire body.

The following components of the poison pose a danger to humans:

• phospholipase A2 is an enzyme that activates the inflammatory response;
• acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that ensures the transmission of impulses;
• histamine is a mediator of immediate allergic reactions;
• mastoparan is a toxin of protein origin.

As a result of the influence of a “bouquet” of biologically active substances on the tissues of the human body, a protective systemic inflammatory response develops.

A hornet sting can be fatal to humans if the victim experiences an allergic reaction. The following complications may also develop:

• skin rashes;
• bronchospasm - obstruction of the airways with difficulty exhaling;
• hallucinations;
• paroxysmal pain in various parts of the abdomen, nausea, vomiting;
• convulsive syndrome;
• depression of consciousness;
• a sharp decrease in blood pressure with further cessation of blood circulation.

Single hornet bites during pregnancy and lactation do not pose a danger to the fetus and infant, since the amount of poison is insignificant to penetrate the placental barrier or into the liver of a nursing mother.

How dangerous is a hornet bite for a child? Due to the small body weight, the concentration of poison for his body is very high, so the symptoms are more pronounced. And also due to the fact that children react actively and unpredictably to buzzing insects, the risk of multiple attacks increases, increasing the development of allergic reactions. In order not to risk the child’s life if bitten, you should immediately call an ambulance, without waiting for allergies to appear and anaphylactic shock to develop.

What kind of wasps are found in Russia?

Crabronids (sand wasps)

Compared to the tropics, the Russian climate is poorly suited for most riders. And yet, in Russian latitudes they are also found, although less frequently. The most common types:

• Mimarommatids. A tenacious detachment, whose representatives live even in the subantarctic. They lay their eggs on the eggs of other arthropods.
• Mutillids (German wasps) are distinguished by their attractive appearance and bright colors. Over 4 thousand species of mutilids are found in nature, and in all of them the males are larger than the females. The size does not exceed 3 cm, and the body is covered with hard hairs. They lay eggs on wasps, bees and flies.
• Nutcrackers. Like relatives, they lay offspring on insects. Adults feed on plant juices.
• Proctocorpoid riders. An adult has a microscopic body length of a maximum of 5 mm. In agriculture they have found application as a means of biological protection against pests.
• Chalcides. One of the most numerous orders, which includes up to 200 species. Its representatives are highly valued in agriculture because they destroy those insects that pose a threat to pollinators.
• Evanioid wasps. They differ in their special body structure. Their abdomen is raised from the chest. They leave offspring on other types of wasps, on cockroaches and sawflies, for which they have gained fame as protectors of the forest.
• Typhia. About 20 species are found in Europe, and another 30 in Russia and the CIS countries. The body length of an adult does not exceed 1 cm. They usually have a black body color and brown wings. They prefer to lay eggs on beetles: dung beetles, May beetles and others. A rare case of symbiosis, since the victim does not die immediately, but continues to coexist with the wasp larva.

Japanese hornet

For your information! In the United States, the most common species is pompilidae (road wasps), which live in nests that are built in the ground, often along roadsides. They lay their eggs mainly on large spiders. In total there are about 4900 species of pompilids.

Crabronids (sand wasps) are common in Europe, over 600 species in total, but in total there are about 8 thousand varieties known, found throughout the planet. They usually make holes in the sand, where larvae are raised in nests. Food (bees, other wasps, other hymenoptera) is delivered to them by adult individuals, paralyzing the victims with their poison.

The remaining very numerous families of ichneumon wasps prefer the hot and humid climate of the tropics and subtropics. In the relict forests of the Amazon you can find unique insects up to 8 cm in length. It is noteworthy that scientists still continue to find new species, while a considerable number of unique insects are so rare that they can be classified as endangered.

Varieties

Braconids

Three species of Braconidae are found on all continents. In total, biologists have described more than 15 thousand species. Braconids are successfully used by humans in the fight against

agricultural pests. They feed on caterpillars of leaf roller butterflies and granary moth (damaging flour, grain, dried fruits, confectionery, spices, etc.)

The color of an adult is dark brown with yellow and black splashes. Body length 2.5 centimeters. The ovipositor in females is relatively small (slightly shorter than the abdomen).

Eggs are laid on caterpillars in the amount of 20 pieces. Before laying, the caterpillar is paralyzed by poison. The larvae appear after twelve hours. Actively consuming the caterpillar, they go through all stages of development in five days. The pupation stage lasts four days. Adults have different life expectancies. Males live ten days. Females are a month old.

Trichogramma

Trichogramma is another family of equestrians useful to humans. There are 200 species of Trichogramma in the world.

The size of adults is up to 1 millimeter. Color black or brown. The body is dense, the head has short antennae. The larvae parasitize the eggs of leaf rollers, moths, silkworms and cabbage cutworms.

Up to four eggs are laid in the host insect egg. Pupation occurs in the body of an already dead host (at the larval stage).

This rider is extremely useful for agriculture. Adults are released per hectare, based on strict calculations (up to 50 thousand). This happens when pests lay eggs. Trichogramma parasitizes more than seventy species of agricultural pests.

Drinids

Dryinidae are small parasitic wasps found throughout the world. They tolerate low temperatures well. Some species live in the northern regions of Europe. A total of 48 genera of these insects are known.

Adults have a dark color. The body is slender with a narrow abdomen and long legs. Females have no wings and look like large ants. Sizes from 2 millimeters to centimeters.

Before laying eggs, the female paralyzes the victim only for a while. Subsequently, the infected larvae continue to move and develop.

Dryinids feed on homoptera (crop pests) and members of the cicada family.

Chrysididae

Chrysididae parasitize bees and wasps. There are 3 thousand species of these riders in the world.

They are distinguished by their bright body color. There are red, green and blue colors. The body is smooth and shiny. Hence the three-fold name - the glossy wasp.

Settles in earthen burrows. The adult size is 1.5 centimeters. The abdomen is concave. In females, the ovipositor is thin and retracted into the abdomen. Thanks to this, the insect can easily push it into hard-to-reach places such as cracks in hives. Causes significant damage to apiaries. Young bees infected with larvae die.

It has a sting, like a real wasp. The glitter can bite painfully. However, the bite is not dangerous to humans.

More often, when frightened, the insect simply curls up into a tight ball and freezes.

Orussids

Orussidae live primarily in coniferous forests. They parasitize wood beetles. There are eighty species of Orussids throughout the world. Representatives of seven species are found in Europe.

The size of an adult reaches 1.5 centimeters. The body is black with a bright orange belly and well-developed paired wings. In females, the ovipositor is retracted into the abdomen.

Eggs are laid on weakened larvae of horntails, longhorned beetles and golden beetles. Having destroyed the host, the larva spends the winter in tree tunnels cut through by beetle larvae. Pupates in early summer. Soon, adults emerge from the pupae, chew through the wood and come out in search of a mate. After mating, the female crawls along the bark of trees in search of future food supply for the offspring. Having found the beetle larvae, she lays eggs in them through natural cracks in the bark.

Ephialtes

Dolichomitus imperator is the largest ichneumon species in Europe.

Adults reach a length of 3 centimeters. The body is shiny, black, with small white spots. Legs are reddish. Females are distinguished by their enormous ovipositor size (about twice as long as the abdomen). They feed on nectar and sap of woody plants.

Ephialtes larvae parasitize the larvae of longhorned beetles and borers (pine pests). The female is able to find future carriers at a depth of up to four centimeters. To reach them, she drills into the tree bark with a strong ovipositor. The drilling procedure takes several hours. In this case, the insect corrects, if necessary, its position relative to the beetle larva. The egg is placed directly into the body of the paralyzed victim.

One of the most dangerous types of flies is the tsetse fly. She suffers from sleeping sickness, which is practically incurable. Horseflies carry pathogens of such dangerous diseases as polio and anthrax. What the parasite looks like, see this article.

The red forest ant is one of the most common species in Russia. Read about other ants that can be found in Russia by following the link.

Megarhyssa perlata

Megarhyssa perlata is a rare species of ichneumon, listed in the Red Book. On the territory of Russia it is found throughout the forest zone.

The adult size is 4.5 centimeters. The body is bright orange. The elongated abdomen has black and white stripes. The head antennae are long and light. Females have a long, hard ovipositor, approximately twice the length of the abdomen. Adults feed on flower nectar.

The larvae parasitize on pests of deciduous trees - horntails. The female lays eggs in tunnels made by pests, having previously drilled through the bark with an ovipositor. The larva emerging from the egg behaves actively. Moving along the passages, it finds the owner and attaches itself to his body.

Lives on the surface of the host's body as an ectoparasite.

Reproduction and lifespan

Having reached adulthood, riders do not live long, usually no more than three months. And only in cases when, during the period of completion of formation, they are caught by cold weather, they go into forced wintering, and in the spring they complete their life cycle and die. In this case, their lifespan can be up to ten months. Each species approaches reproduction individually.

After mating, the female ephialtes ichneumon has to look for a suitable longhorned beetle larva in the bark of a tree. To do this, she runs along the trunk and taps everywhere with her antennae. Based on this sound, it detects the location of the object.

Next, she drills into the wood with her ovipositor, standing on her hind legs, spinning it like a top. This work lasts at least two hours. When it reaches the larva hidden in the trunk, the parasite places a single egg inside it.

The number of eggs of small species from the braconid family reaches 20 pieces. They paralyze the caterpillars, which are their main carriers, with poison. Not even a day passes after the attack before the larvae appear.

They complete all stages of formation in five days, and pupation lasts another four days. But developing rapidly, such creatures live extremely short lives: males - no more than 10 days, and the female half - only a month.

Large braconids can infect ladybugs by placing an egg inside. In this case, facial development occurs more slowly, sometimes more than three weeks. It feeds on the connective and fatty tissues of the cow.

And at a certain time it leaves the body, but not the victim. In this case, the larva gnaws the motor nerves and paralyzes the cow. Then a cocoon is formed under it. Thus, about a week passes in the pupal stage, and then the tormentor leaves forever for adulthood.

Nutrition and reproduction

Most adult individuals feed on plant juice and nectar, sweet fruits, and grains. Some representatives do not need food at all. But larvae deposited in the body or on the skin of the victim are considered predators. Gluttonous worms need a lot of flesh to grow. Most often, other types of wasps, beetles, caterpillars, spiders or scorpions are attacked.

The development cycle of the parasite begins with mating. This period occurs in the middle of summer, when there is intense heat. A fertilized female looks for a suitable insect or its passages under the bark of a tree to lay eggs, thereby providing her future offspring with food. Riders differ in the method of parasitism:

• ectoparasites - eggs are laid on the abdomen of the victim, and the hatched larvae independently make their way inside the body;
• endoparasites - laying occurs immediately inside the insect, and the larvae begin to eat the flesh within a few hours after infection;
• superparasites - infect wasps of other varieties, while laying eggs inside and outside the body.

This is interesting! The wasp larvae eat the victim's flesh in a specific order. Thanks to this, the affected insect lives for a long time and dies only when the predatory worms pupate.

Up to 20 larvae can develop in one affected caterpillar or beetle. They feed on the flesh of the victim and then pupate. In tropical countries, the ichneumon ichneumon pupa turns into an adult within a week. In temperate climates, the insect overwinters and appears in the spring for further reproduction.

The process of laying eggs

Such parasites are treasure hunters by nature. Distinguished by their excellent sense of smell, they run along dried up tree posts and look for walled-up larvae of longhorned beetles and golden beetles under the bark. At times, riders (insects) fly around the trunk in a curve, looking for the place where a large beetle larva was buried under the bark. And it’s even difficult to imagine how they can feel the larva through such dense bark.

Having found an area, the parasite settles on the bark of a pine tree and begins to pierce it with its ovipositor. Therefore, in most ichneumon races the ovipositors are enormously long; in some species they are even 7.5 times longer than the body. This is a whole drilling device. At first, the insect removes the “case” in which its “installation” was stored to the side, then it stands “on tiptoe” and slowly screws a thin sting into the bark. Along with this, the parasite is forced to spin, screwing the ovipositor deeper.

The drilling operation sometimes lasts several hours. Thanks to its special structure, the thin ovipositor easily passes through the thick bark of a tree, piercing into a hidden prey larva at a depth of 2-3 cm. Then the egg passes through this ovipositor.

Features of reproduction

Burrowing wasps are solitary insects. They are not dependent on other members of the family, and they are able to take care of their offspring without outside help.

The female burrowing hymenoptera digs a burrow, fills it with supplies, and then lays an egg there. After this, she carefully closes the hole with a plug of earth mixture.

All burrowing insects show care towards their offspring. Adults build a house for the future generation, and also prepare a nutritional base for the larvae. Behavior differs markedly between species.

Females of some burrowing wasp species check nests every day. If by that time the larvae have already eaten all the reserves, then they willingly replenish them with a fresh portion. It is not difficult for one female to simultaneously monitor 2-3 nests with offspring and supply them with food.

Nutrition

Adult megarhyssa perlata, which prefer to consume the nectar of flowers themselves, introduce their larvae into pests that breed in the bark of trees, depositing them in the passages made by these insects.

And ichneumon larvae , being extremely active in search of food, find their own prey, attaching themselves to the body of the victim. Most adult parasites do not eat the flesh of other insects, and some do not even eat anything at all. But they are looking for a suitable object to saturate their larvae.

Prey for parasites can include wasps, ants, beetles and caterpillars, and in some cases scorpions and spiders. Braconids are used to feed barn moths and leaf roller butterflies, but they can also harm people’s supplies, spoiling spices, confectionery, dried fruits, grain and flour.

Hornets and bees

Hornets are omnivorous in nature. They feed mostly on the sweet pulp of various fruits, but they are also predators. These giant wasps feed their larvae with caught and killed insects, while the adults themselves are not averse to snacking on a caught beetle or bee.

To a greater extent, these are very useful creatures for humans. A colony of these striped hunters that settles next to a gardener’s home can protect the crop from most harmful insects. Hornets are at the top of the invertebrate food chain and can bring half a kilogram of live food per day to feed themselves and their larvae.

But in an apiary environment, the benefit of these predators ends. Hornets are a real beekeeper's scourge. The bee and the hornet are the prey and the hunter. Hornets and bees are long-standing and primordial enemies, because one of the main hunting objects for this giant wasp is the honey worker. Fed on killed bees (and wasps as well), their larvae receive all the necessary nutrients they need for development.

Bees are practically defenseless against hornets. If a scout wasp notices the presence of a bee hive on the territory, without protective measures on the part of the beekeeper, the hive is doomed. Even one huge hornet can destroy dozens of bees, crushing them with its jaws and using a deadly sting.

Bees have only one effective method to deal with one hornet. By attacking a wasp in a swarm and enclosing it in a continuous living vibrating “cocoon,” the bees can kill the enemy by creating overheating conditions for him inside this trap, created from the bees themselves, constantly moving around the wasp.

A distinctive feature of riders from other insects

A distinctive feature of ichneumon is the presence of an ovipositor. This ovipositor is sharp, which is why in English-language literature ichneumon wasps are called parasitic wasps. With the help of a sharp ovipositor, riders lay eggs in the bodies of victims. The victims, as a rule, are larger insects: arthropods, butterfly caterpillars, beetle larvae and spiders.

The rider climbs onto the victim, as if he wants to ride it, hence the name, and inserts the eggs directly into the body of the living insect. The larvae develop inside the victim, gradually eat internal organs, develop and destroy their “incubator”.

Equestrian (Parasitica).

Reproduction

The best time for breeding wasps is rainy and warm summer. In such weather, the population increases several times.

After mating, the female lays eggs in the body of arthropods, most often small insects. The size and number of clutches are individual for each species. Typically, about 20 larvae hatched from eggs parasitize the body of one victim. They feed on tissues, which gradually leads to the death of the host by the time of pupation. The larvae spend their “reserves” very sparingly: the victim never dies prematurely, because future riders will die along with it.

Groups of riders

There are several groups of riders, differing in their methods of parasitism:

• Ectoparasites most often infect victims living inside fruits or wood, they paralyze the victim and attach eggs to the outside;
• Endoparasites inject their eggs directly into the victim; in endoparasite larvae, development takes longer;
• Superparasites or parasite parasites infect other species of Hymenoptera and Diptera parasites.

The infraorder ichneumonids includes a huge number of species and subspecies of insects.

The benefits of equestrians in agriculture

In different species of ichneumon ichneumon, the number of eggs can range from 15 to 15 thousand. Moreover, it is not at all necessary that the offspring of wasps that lay a small number of eggs will be small, since several thousand larvae can hatch from one egg.

All species of wasps are parasites. At the same time, they lay their eggs in the bodies of the victims so that the victim remains alive and the larva feeds on it during its development. At first, the larva eats only fat and does not touch vital organs, and then proceeds to the rest.

The riders are slowly but surely destroying their “living incubator”

Numerous crop pests mainly become victims of riders. In this regard, people have long bred equestrians to protect vegetable gardens and fields. Most often, the egg-eating parasites Trichogramma are used for these purposes, which infect the eggs of cabbage moths, codling moths and cotton bollworms.

Reproduction of pompilids

Large black wasps are solitary; they do not live in colonies and do not build multi-tiered nests.
A place for offspring is chosen in the ground, not far from well-trodden roads. Females do not feed the larvae, bringing them food daily. The offspring grows independently, on “live canned food”. Road wasps do not make honeycombs; they use several separate larval chambers as nests. These are short passages dug into the ground, ending in a slight widening. It's also interesting that not every termite has to be destined to eat. In truth, it is mostly eaten by primitive species that do not create impressive mounds. The ones we know from nature films primarily feed on cellulose, which is extracted from plants, spread by fungi, all done in special "mushrooms" that result in the comfort of their termites. Chips - if the previous lines were rather familiar insects, and not Zoraprata, few had the opportunity to hear. In fact, this group knows almost the only entomologists who study these insects.

During the breeding season, the female finds and immobilizes spiders on which the larvae will feed. First, she immobilizes the victim, and then looks for a suitable place to burrow. While digging a nest, the female periodically returns to the spider, because it is stolen by ants or other wasps. Next begins the difficult stage of dragging the arthropod into the hole. Some specimens of spiders exceed the size of pompilids.

There are only about 30 species in the world, and there are none in Europe. These are very small insects, their size does not exceed 3 mm. The appearance of the culprits is a combination of features of other orders of cockroaches, termites and psittaras. As for their lifestyle, it is quite secretive and is not really fully understood yet, although scientists are very interested in this group, especially in terms of insect evolution.

Another very small line of insects that most people have no idea about. Like the critters, there are few species in the world and none in Europe. Instead of tropical forests, they prefer the mountainous regions of North America, the Far East and Japan. The cockatoo's look is leather-like and orthoptera.

The female pulls the fart into the hole

The black wasp cannot fly with its prey, so the insect drags it along the ground. Periodically, she flies to the mink for reconnaissance. Having delivered the prey to the larval chamber, the female lays an egg on the spider. The entrance to the nest is filled up and camouflaged, for this purpose pebbles, castings, and pine needles are pulled off.

Also, representatives of this rank are very important when studying the evolution of insects. For this suborder, there are about 50 species of beetles with a rather primitive body structure. It also includes a very old gene from these insects. The ancestors of these beetles lived during the Triassic period, when dinosaurs began to form. An interesting feature is that it is visible on their coverings, which is commonly seen on the wing membranes of various insects. It turns out that this beetle is accompanied by such phenomena as: hypermetomorphosis, pedogenesis, virulence and vagrancy.

To keep the spider alive, the larva begins to eat it from less significant systems - reproductive, excretory. The respiratory organs and nervous system are eaten at the final stage of development. The adult breaks its way to the surface and flies out into an independent life. If it is a female, she will become the successor of the Pompilidae genus.

But the presence of the latter does not mean the absence of males, on the contrary, men, but no one answered at this time what kind of fungus they are. Mixophaga - about 65 species of beetles, the question is almost the same as with the prayer mantis. In our fauna only one species has been found that belongs to it. This makes them one of the smallest beetles in the world. This would be sufficient for tropical insects.

Wasp sting

All wasps bite painfully, but this does not apply to wasps. The insect is not distinguished by its aggressive disposition and is in no hurry to attack even if it is in danger. He tries with all his might to avoid a collision with a person, to hide from sight.

Wasp sting

On a note!

In a situation where you have to bite, the wasp stings, but does not lay eggs, it simply injects a dose of poison. The bite of the ichneumon ichneumon is not so painful; it is more reminiscent of an ant attack. Redness and slight swelling remain for some time, then itching appears. After a while everything goes away.

The wasp is not dangerous to humans, but particularly sensitive people may experience an allergic reaction of varying intensity. A large red spot, swelling, and additional rash appear at the site of the bite; in severe cases, deterioration in health is observed.

The bite of the ichneumon ichneumon is dangerous for many insects that are garden and vegetable pests. The settlement of a horsewoman on the territory of a garden is only welcomed by humans. Except in those cases when the imago settles in the apiary. Bees can be harmed by it.

Viper bite

The severity of symptoms during an attack by a poisonous reptile depends on many factors:

• what is the body weight of the victim? As a rule, the less the victim weighs, the more pronounced the symptoms after the bite. Due to this, children endure an attack much harder than an adult;
• location of the bite. The greatest danger comes from bites made in the area of ​​the circulatory system, in the head and neck area;
• season. The hotter the weather, the more active intoxication occurs;
• the amount of poison released. Reptile attacks do not always involve the injection of poison. As a rule, if a viper has recently bitten into a victim, then a new portion has not yet had time to develop.

As for the symptoms that appear after the attack, they are as follows:

• in the attack zone, redness of the surface of the skin is observed;
• local temperature is observed;
• traces of the reptile's fangs are clearly visible;
• swelling forms around the wound;
• the tumor spreads up the limb;
• a person feels weak in the body;
• dizziness may occur;
• severe pain in the head area;
• tachycardia is observed;
• Nausea and urge to vomit appear.

Similar symptoms are typical for adults. In cases where a child is injured, the symptoms are more severe:

• the affected arm or leg becomes numb;
• gradually paralysis affects the entire body, including the face;
• breathing becomes heavy;
• swallowing function is impaired;
• Possible failure of the heart muscle.

In addition, the child may experience uncontrolled urination.

If you experience such symptoms, it is important to immediately contact a medical facility for help.

Wasp wasp: is the adult dangerous?

An important question that interests people: “Does the ichneumon wasp cause harm or benefit to agriculture, and is it dangerous to humans?” A short answer can be presented in the form of the following theses:

• the insect is dangerous only for sensitive people with a high probability of an allergic reaction;
• the ichneumon wasp contributes to the destruction of garden and agricultural pests;
• the number of adults in the apiary should be limited, as they destroy bees.

All representatives of wasps bite painfully, but the species in question never attacks a person. The rider is not characterized by aggressive behavior; she always tries to avoid contact with people and disappear from their field of vision.

If the black wasp was forced to attack a person, it stings, squirting out a dose of poisonous substance. The bite feels like an ant's. Don't worry about the consequences. Adults do not use the human body to lay eggs. The ichneumon wasp may only pose a danger to sensitive people with a high likelihood of developing an allergic reaction. At the site of the bite, they develop a large red spot and swelling. In severe cases, there is a rash on the body and deterioration in health.

It is worth mentioning separately the role of the wasp for agricultural and garden crops. Adults often choose plant pests as victims. Therefore, their presence in the garden will only be beneficial. But their presence in the apiary should be limited; adults cause significant harm to bees.

How dangerous is an insect?

The ichneumon wasp is not dangerous to humans and never stings for no reason. The bite is practically painless and is easier to tolerate than an attack by a regular wasp. A slight redness remains on the skin. Also, do not be afraid of parasitism and the appearance of larvae under the skin. Humans are not hunted or food for the long-tailed parasite.

Gardeners and gardeners often use parasitic wasps to protect their gardens from other parasites. Predators attack caterpillars, leaf beetles and other sucking beetles that harm crops. Flowers are planted around the site to attract equestrians.

What to do if a wasp bites a person?

In some cases, hypersensitivity to the sting of a parasitic wasp wasp has been recorded. An allergic reaction occurs in young children and people with reduced immunity. To prevent anaphylactic shock or angioedema, it is recommended to provide first aid to the victim in a timely manner.

Symptoms and consequences

Most often, a wasp sting does not show up on the skin. But with a strong concentration of toxins that the insect injects during an attack, a slight redness appears. Itching and swelling may also occur. The most dangerous consequence of an encounter with a rider is considered to be scratching the wound. In this way, a person can independently introduce an infection. Symptoms of infection are swelling and tearing of the stung area, the formation of an abscess, and a rash.

If redness does not go away after 5 days, you should consult a doctor. To determine the diagnosis and prescribe treatment, the victim is given a referral for a scraping from the bite site, a general blood and urine test.

First aid

After a wasp attack, you should wipe the bite site with an antiseptic. Fukortsin, Miramistin, hydrogen peroxide or alcohol (vodka) are suitable for this. If pain occurs, you can take analgesics and antispasmodics. To prevent the development of swelling, redness and rashes, anti-inflammatory medications are needed.

Allergic reaction

An allergic reaction is rare because when a long-tailed wasp stings, it injects a minimal amount of toxin that is not dangerous to humans. But there is always a risk of developing severe swelling or hives. Young children need to be especially closely monitored. If signs of intolerance to poison appear, you should urgently take antihistamines (Suprastin, Loratadine, Zodak), and then seek help from a doctor.

Sources

• https://www.syl.ru/article/211515/new_naezdnik-nasekomoe-obschie-svedeniya-opisanie
• https://Dezoff.ru/nasekomye/osa-naezdnik/
• https://givnost.ru/naezdnik-nasekomoe-opisanie-osobennosti-vidy-obraz-zhizni-i-sreda-obitaniya-naezdnika/
• https://alternativa-mc.ru/infekcii-lechenie/osa-parazit-naezdnik.html
• https://GdeKlop.ru/osy-i-pchely/naezdnik-s-dlinnym-hvostom/
• https://klopkan.ru/osy/osa-naezdnik-foto-i-opisanie-opasna-li-dlya-cheloveka/
• https://kursi-floristiki.ru/klopy/osa-naezdnik.html
• https://givotniymir.ru/naezdnik-nasekomoe-obraz-zhizni-i-sreda-obitaniya-naezdnika/
• https://animalreader.ru/chto-za-nasekomyie-naezdniki-i-kak-oni-vyirashhivayut-potomstvo.html
• https://apest.ru/osy/vidy-os/osa-naezdnik/

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Danger

The wasps are dangerous primarily for other arthropods, because parasitism leads to their death. This is the benefit of insects: they often fall prey to other pests that cause damage to human supplies, livestock, and agricultural crops. Equines, often being “super-parasites”, restrain the growth of their population. But is the ichneumon wasp dangerous for humans? The fear of these insects is not unfounded. Their body, like that of wasps, produces poison, so the bites do not go away without leaving a trace. But riders do not attack people just like that and do not lay eggs under human skin: they attack solely for the purpose of self-defense.

The poison is especially dangerous for those who have individual intolerance to the substances included in its composition. In this case, the bite can provoke a dangerous condition - anaphylactic shock. Even in the absence of hypersensitivity to the ichneumon ichneumon venom, soreness and swelling appear on the skin, which lasts for an average of three days.

What to do if bitten by an ichneumon wasp? The action plan is universal for attacks by any insects:

• wipe the microscopic wound with an antiseptic;
• if necessary, use local anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antiallergic agents;
• if the reaction is severe, antihistamines should be taken orally.

But usually an encounter with an ichneumon wasp passes without any unpleasant consequences.

Riders are insects that are peaceful towards humans and never choose people as objects for parasitism. Their benefit lies in reducing the number of other pests. The only danger is their poisonous bite, which causes discomfort.