Conura sp.

(Insecta: Hymenoptera: Chalcididae)

Conura sp. is a pupal parasitoid of the palm leaf skeletonizer, Homaledra sabalella (Chambers), and of many other lepidopteran species.

Adult wasps are about 6 mm long and reddish brown to dark brown. As typical for chalcid wasps, the femur of the hind legs is much enlarged.

Females lay eggs into host pupae, which die during the subsequent development of the parasitoid larvae. Larvae pupate within the host pupa.

Conura sp. was reared from palm leaf skeletonizer in Florida during a survey in 2002 to 2003.

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Adult female of Conura sp.

(Photographer: Lyle Buss, University of Florida)