Meteorus autographae Muesebeck

(Insecta: Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Many noctuid species are suitable hosts for Meteorus autographae.

Meteorus autographae adult wasps are 6 mm long and orange, with black eyes and antennae. The female has a well-defined black ovipositor. Larvae are long, slender and translucent with a pronounced, sclerotized head.

In Florida, this parasitoid attacks most instars of noctuid host larvae and completes its life cycle within 14 days. Adults live on average 40 days.

The geographic distribution of Meteorus autographae extends from Newfoundland south to Florida, and then west to Wisconsin and Louisiana.

Images 

To save the Web-optimized images shown below to your hard drive:

PC users: right click to "Save Picture (or Image) As..."

Mac users: click and drag to your desktop.

Adult Meteorus autographae Muesebeck

(Photographer: Andrei Sourakov, Florida Museum of Natural History)