Aleiodes circumscriptus

Description

Aleiodes circumscriptus is an insect belonging to the Hymenoptera orderHymenoptera and the wasp familyBraconidae. The scientific name of the species was first validly published by Nees in 1834. Aleiodes is a genus of the family Braconidae of parasitoid wasps described by Constantin Wesmael in 1838. They are also known as mummy-wasps. The female attacks caterpillars of various species, including many pests such as Gypsy moths and tent caterpillars, and then deposits eggs in the caterpillars. The eggs hatch and the wasp larva feeds on the caterpillar, leaving a hardened caterpillar skin, or mummy. The wasp pupates within the mummy and eventually the adult breaks out, leaving a small hole in the husk of the caterpillar.