COMMON NAME
Black and white-striped wasp
Order

Suborder

Family

Genus

Species

Alias
Hymenoptera



Ichneumonidae

Gotra

Sp1

Banded pupa parasite wasp

Description

Three species appear identical. These wasps are black with white spot-like markings on the thorax and black and white stripes on the abdomen. They have a white band on the antenna. It is possible that their markings may vary slightly. Xanthocryptus novozealandicus- female has a shorter ovipositor. Ichneumon promissorius -female has an ovipositor longer than her body length. Gotra sp1 - has a smaller ovipositor, less than half her body length. The adults will feed on nectar and pollen which makes them important pollinators of plants.

Adult size: 15 mm

Out and about

These wasps will be about over spring and summer when their hosts are prevalent. Females lay their eggs in autumn when the larvae they prey on have hatched. There are no comparative references between these wasps so I’ll mention them all. Gotra Sp1 (Black and white striped Ichneumon wasp) is an Australian wasp it is found mainly on the south-east coast in temperate to subtropical regions. Xanthocryptus novozealandicus (Lemon tree borer parasite) is native to New Zealand but also found in Australia and New Guinea. In Australia it along the east coast from south Queensland to Tasmania. Ichneumon promissorius (Banded caterpillar parasite wasp) is an Australian native found mainly in eastern Australia, Tasmania, South Australia and also to a lesser degree in Western Australia.

Reproduction and Life cycle

To deter

To control

Plants to repel

Plants to attract

Alfalfa / Angelica / Anthemis (chamomile) / Artemisia (daisy) / Artichoke / Aster / Calendular / Carrot / Caraway / Chickory / Chrysanthemum / Cinquefoil / Coriander / Crimson thyme / Dandelion/ Dill / Endive / Fennel / Feverfew / Lavender / Lemon balm / Lemon marigold / Lettuce / Lobelia / Oleander / Penny royal / Parsley / Pincushion flower / Queen Anne’s lace / Rose geranium / Rue / Statice (everlasting paper flowers) / Sunflowers / Tansy / White alyssum / White clover / White cosmos / Yarrow / Zinnia

Predators

Why they are Beneficial
Although It may be difficult to differentiate between these wasps they all prey on larvae which can cause damage to our plants. Gotra sp1 lays an egg in a moth cocoon where it hatches. The larva then feeds on the developing moth larvae. Xanthocryptus novozealandicus lays eggs in larvae of wood boring beetles, particularly the lemon tree borer (Oemona hirta). This borer lays its eggs into the branches and stems of citrus trees, grapes and native plants. The female wasp lays eggs into the larvae through the wood via her ovipositor. Ichneumom promissorius lays a single egg in a caterpillar. The wasp larva then feeds on the caterpillar.
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