Lissopimpla excelsa
Encyclopedia
Lissopimpla excelsa, commonly known as the orchid dupe wasp, is a Wasp
of the family Ichneumonidae
native to Australia. Although also found in New Zealand it has probably been introduced there. It pollinates all five Australian members of the orchid genus Cryptostylis
. The male wasp mistakes the flower parts for a female wasp and attempts to copulate with it. Although the different species can occur together, they appear to inhibit cross-fertilisation and no hybrids are found in nature. This discovery was made by Australian naturalist Edith Coleman
in 1928. The term "pseudocopulation
" has since been coined to describe the phenomenon. The mimicking of flowers to resemble female wasp parts has since been recorded in other orchid genera.
Although termed pseudocopulation, vigorous copulation does occur, and the male wasp ejaculates enough so that the emissions are visible to the naked eye on the flower parts. A 2008 field study showed these to contain wasp sperm. The flowers of Cryptostylis
orchids and female wasp body parts are very similar in colour when viewed under a hymenoptera
n visual system, despite looking unlike to human eyes. Although the colours that ichneumon wasps see are unknown, bees and wasps have similar perception with green, blue and ultraviolet wavelengths. The Cryptostylis flowers have no smell detectable to humans, but have been shown to have an odour which attracts the wasp.
The orchid dupe wasp was first described by Italian entomologist Achille Costa
in 1864 as Pimpla excelsa, before being placed in (and becoming the type species of) the new genus Lissopimpla in 1889 by Joseph Kriechbaumer
, who called it Lissopimpla octo-guttata Kriechb. It was also known for many years as Lissopimpla semipunctata, however Costa's name has priority and hence is the correct name. The wasp is predominantly dark with white spots on its abdomen. Like all members of its family, L. excelsa is parasitic
. One species it preys upon is the noctuid moth pest species Helicoverpa armigera
.
Wasp
The term wasp is typically defined as any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor an ant. Almost every pest insect species has at least one wasp species that preys upon it or parasitizes it, making wasps critically important in natural control of their...
of the family Ichneumonidae
Ichneumonidae
Ichneumonidae is a family within the insect order Hymenoptera. Insects in this family are commonly called ichneumon wasps. Less exact terms are ichneumon flies , or scorpion wasps due to the extreme lengthening and curving of the abdomen...
native to Australia. Although also found in New Zealand it has probably been introduced there. It pollinates all five Australian members of the orchid genus Cryptostylis
Cryptostylis
Cryptostylis is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It was first defined by the prolific Scottish botanist, Robert Brown in 1810. The type species has since been designated as Cryptostylis erecta. Other species include Cryptostylis hunteriana and Cryptostylis subulata...
. The male wasp mistakes the flower parts for a female wasp and attempts to copulate with it. Although the different species can occur together, they appear to inhibit cross-fertilisation and no hybrids are found in nature. This discovery was made by Australian naturalist Edith Coleman
Edith Coleman
Edith Coleman was an australian naturalist who made important observations on pollination syndromes in Australian plant species.-References:*Allan McEvey, , Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 13, Melbourne University Press, 1993, p. 463....
in 1928. The term "pseudocopulation
Pseudocopulation
Pseudocopulation describes behaviors similar to copulation that serve a reproductive function for one or both participants but do not involve actual sexual union between the individuals. It is most generally applied to a pollinator attempting to copulate with a flower. Some flowers mimic a...
" has since been coined to describe the phenomenon. The mimicking of flowers to resemble female wasp parts has since been recorded in other orchid genera.
Although termed pseudocopulation, vigorous copulation does occur, and the male wasp ejaculates enough so that the emissions are visible to the naked eye on the flower parts. A 2008 field study showed these to contain wasp sperm. The flowers of Cryptostylis
Cryptostylis
Cryptostylis is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It was first defined by the prolific Scottish botanist, Robert Brown in 1810. The type species has since been designated as Cryptostylis erecta. Other species include Cryptostylis hunteriana and Cryptostylis subulata...
orchids and female wasp body parts are very similar in colour when viewed under a hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera is one of the largest orders of insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees and ants. There are over 130,000 recognized species, with many more remaining to be described. The name refers to the heavy wings of the insects, and is derived from the Ancient Greek ὑμήν : membrane and...
n visual system, despite looking unlike to human eyes. Although the colours that ichneumon wasps see are unknown, bees and wasps have similar perception with green, blue and ultraviolet wavelengths. The Cryptostylis flowers have no smell detectable to humans, but have been shown to have an odour which attracts the wasp.
The orchid dupe wasp was first described by Italian entomologist Achille Costa
Achille Costa
Achille Costa was an Italian entomologist appointed director of the Zoological Museum of Naples. He founded the entomological collections in Naples and described many new species....
in 1864 as Pimpla excelsa, before being placed in (and becoming the type species of) the new genus Lissopimpla in 1889 by Joseph Kriechbaumer
Joseph Kriechbaumer
Joseph Kriechbaumer , Munich was a German entomologist who specialised in Hymenoptera especially Ichneumonidae.A Dr.phil...
, who called it Lissopimpla octo-guttata Kriechb. It was also known for many years as Lissopimpla semipunctata, however Costa's name has priority and hence is the correct name. The wasp is predominantly dark with white spots on its abdomen. Like all members of its family, L. excelsa is parasitic
Parasitic wasp
The term parasitoid wasp refers to a large evolutionary grade of hymenopteran superfamilies, mainly in the Apocrita. They are primarily parasitoids of other animals, mostly other arthropods...
. One species it preys upon is the noctuid moth pest species Helicoverpa armigera
Helicoverpa armigera
The cotton bollworm, corn earworm or Old World bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, is a moth, the larvae of which feed on a wide range of plants, including many important cultivated crops. It is a major pest in cotton and one of the most polyphagous and cosmopolitan pest species...
.