''Mesoleptus'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
parasitic wasp
A wasp is any insect of the narrow-waisted suborder Apocrita of the order Hymenoptera which is neither a bee nor an ant; this excludes the broad-waisted sawflies (Symphyta), which look somewhat like wasps, but are in a separate suborder. Th ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Ichneumonidae with a wide geographic distribution.
The
antennae of its members are typically long, slender, and usually curved. The head is short and narrow with oval, slightly protruding eyes. The
thorax
The thorax or chest is a part of the anatomy of humans, mammals, and other tetrapod animals located between the neck and the abdomen. In insects, crustaceans, and the extinct trilobites, the thorax is one of the three main divisions of the cre ...
is somewhat humped, with small wings.
The cellules of the wings, which are small enclosed areas between veins, are either very small or entirely absent.
It is characterized by the narrowed
abdomen
The abdomen (colloquially called the belly, tummy, midriff, tucky or stomach) is the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis, in humans and in other vertebrates. The abdomen is the front part of the abdominal segment of the torso. ...
referred to as a
petiole. Abdomen shape is usually oblong and smooth.
The legs are slender and long, although the hindmost leg can be thickened.
In 2008, Dr. Chris Williams at the
National University of Ireland, Galway
The University of Galway ( ga, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe) is a public research university located in the city of Galway, Ireland. A tertiary education and research institution, the university was awarded the full five QS stars for excellence in 201 ...
announced the discovery of what he believed to be a new species of ''Mesoleptus'', for which he suggested the name ''Mesoleptus hibernica'' (for the ancient
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
name for
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
) in an interview. However, the species has yet to be confirmed or published, and is therefore not a valid species name.
Selected species
* ''
Mesoleptus borealis
''Mesoleptus'' is a genus of parasitic wasp in the family Ichneumonidae with a wide geographic distribution.
The antennae of its members are typically long, slender, and usually curved. The head is short and narrow with oval, slightly protrud ...
''
(Davis, 1898)
* ''
Mesoleptus congener''
(Förster, 1876)
* ''
Mesoleptus davisii''
(Dalla Torre, 1898)
* ''
Mesoleptus declivus''
(Provancher, 1886)
* ''
Mesoleptus devotus''
(Förster, 1876)
* ''
Mesoleptus distinctus''
(Förster, 1876)
* ''
Mesoleptus glaucus
''Mesoleptus'' is a genus of parasitic wasp in the family Ichneumonidae with a wide geographic distribution.
The antennae of its members are typically long, slender, and usually curved. The head is short and narrow with oval, slightly protrud ...
''
(Davis, 1898)
* ''
Mesoleptus hispanicus
''Mesoleptus'' is a genus of parasitic wasp in the family Ichneumonidae with a wide geographic distribution.
The antennae of its members are typically long, slender, and usually curved. The head is short and narrow with oval, slightly protrud ...
''
Jussila et al. 2010
* ''
Mesoleptus ignotus
''Mesoleptus'' is a genus of parasitic wasp in the family Ichneumonidae with a wide geographic distribution.
The antennae of its members are typically long, slender, and usually curved. The head is short and narrow with oval, slightly protrud ...
''
(Cresson, 1868)
* ''
Mesoleptus incessor
''Mesoleptus'' is a genus of parasitic wasp in the family Ichneumonidae with a wide geographic distribution.
The antennae of its members are typically long, slender, and usually curved. The head is short and narrow with oval, slightly protrud ...
''
(Haliday)
* ''
Mesoleptus ithacae
''Mesoleptus'' is a genus of parasitic wasp in the family Ichneumonidae with a wide geographic distribution.
The antennae of its members are typically long, slender, and usually curved. The head is short and narrow with oval, slightly protrud ...
''
(Ashmead, 1896)
* ''
Mesoleptus laevigatus
''Mesoleptus'' is a genus of parasitic wasp in the family Ichneumonidae with a wide geographic distribution.
The antennae of its members are typically long, slender, and usually curved. The head is short and narrow with oval, slightly protrud ...
''
(Gravenhorst, 1837)
* ''
Mesoleptus laticinctus
''Mesoleptus'' is a genus of parasitic wasp in the family Ichneumonidae with a wide geographic distribution.
The antennae of its members are typically long, slender, and usually curved. The head is short and narrow with oval, slightly protrud ...
''
(Walker, 1874)
* ''
Mesoleptus pronus''
(Förster, 1876)
* ''
Mesoleptus sawoniewiczi''
Jussila et al. 2010
* ''
Mesoleptus solitarius''
(Förster, 1876)
* ''
Mesoleptus tobiasi''
Jonaitis
* ''
Mesoleptus tunisiensis''
Jussila et al. 2010
* ''
Mesoleptus vigilatorius''
(Förster, 1876)
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q14524592
Ichneumonidae genera