This colorful little Ichneumon wasp is approximately 5/8 inch in length. The face, eyes and thorax are black. The abdomen is bright red. The ovipositor is black and nearly as long as the abdomen. The legs are reddish brown. The antennae are long and dark brown. The wings are clear with a brownish cast. This wasp was identified by expert volunteers at the BugGuide website.
The frequency of occurrence of Cryptus albitarsis in Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods is not known, but it is considered to be common in its range in the eastern U.S. Three individuals were seen on south Stream Trail in Fontenelle Forest in early October 2012.
This wasp belongs to the Cryptinae subfamily, the largest Ichneumonidae subfamily with nearly 106 genera in 3 tribes with 765 species north of Mexico. Cryptus is in the Cryptini tribe which has 39 genera and 234 species represented in North America. Cryptini wasps search for hosts primarily among foliage or fruit. This species lays its eggs on caterpillars of the Corn Earworm Moth (Helicoverpa zea), the Oriental Fruit Moth (Grapholita molesta) and other common agricultural pests.
The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Babs Padelford.