Story: Wasps and bees

Certonotus fractinervis female

Certonotus fractinervis female

Certonotus fractinervis is the largest native parasitic wasp. It is long and slender, and the female measures up to 40 millimetres. She has an extremely long ovipositor (the three long threads). This bores holes into beech tree trunks to lay eggs in the larvae of elephant weevils, which make tunnels in native trees.

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Lincoln University, Entomology Research Museum
Photograph by Christina Troup

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How to cite this page:

John Early, 'Wasps and bees - Parasitic wasps', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/11146/certonotus-fractinervis-female (accessed 28 March 2024)

Story by John Early, published 24 Sep 2007