Lissopimpla excelsa

{{Short description|Species of wasp}} {{Speciesbox | image = Lissopimpla excelsa (6536767405).jpg | genus = Lissopimpla | species = excelsa | authority = ([[Achille Costa|Costa]], 1864) | synonyms = ''Lissopimpla semipunctata'' Kirby ''Lissopimpla octo-guttata'' Kriechb. }}

'''''Lissopimpla excelsa''''', commonly known as the '''orchid dupe wasp''', is a [[wasp]] of the family [[Ichneumonidae]] native to Australia. Although also found in New Zealand, where it is known as the dusky-winged ichneumonid, it has probably been introduced there.<ref name=parrot/> However, another source states that it may be native to New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/science/plants-animals-fungi/animals/invertebrates/systematics/hymenoptera/ichneumonidae/factsheets/lissopimpla|title=Lissopimpla|website=Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-06-18}}</ref>

It pollinates all five Australian members of the orchid genus ''[[Cryptostylis]]''. The male wasp mistakes the flower parts for a female wasp and attempts to copulate with it. Although the different species can occur together, they appear to inhibit cross-fertilisation and no hybrids are found in nature.<ref>{{cite book |title=Phylogeny and classification of the orchid family |author=Robert L. Dressler |year=1993 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, UK |isbn=0-521-45058-6 |page=134|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4_xL5qOVa-sC&dq=cryptostylis&pg=PA134 |access-date=22 November 2010}}</ref> This discovery was made by Australian naturalist [[Edith Coleman]] in 1928. The term "[[pseudocopulation]]" has since been coined to describe the phenomenon. The mimicking of flowers to resemble female wasp parts has since been recorded in other orchid genera.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.anu.edu.au/BoZo/orchid_pollination/ |title=Pollination by Sexual Deception in Australian Terrestrial Orchids |author=Rod Peakall |year=2007 |work=Australian National University website |publisher=Australian National University |location=Canberra, ACT |access-date=22 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101211031917/http://www.anu.edu.au/BoZo/orchid_pollination/ |archive-date=11 December 2010 }}</ref>

Although termed pseudocopulation, vigorous copulation does occur, and the male wasp ejaculates enough so that the emissions are visible to the naked eye on the flower parts. A 2008 field study showed these to contain wasp sperm.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=A. C. Gaskett |author2=C. G. Winnick |author3=M. E. Herberstein |year=2008 |title=Orchid Sexual Deceit Provokes Ejaculation |journal=The American Naturalist |volume=171 |issue=6 |pages=E206-12 |url=http://www.bio.mq.edu.au/dept/centres/behavioural/Anne/Gaskett_etal08_AmNat_proof.pdf |access-date=22 November 2010 |doi=10.1086/587532 |pmid=18433329 |s2cid=16443767 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310085538/http://www.bio.mq.edu.au/dept/centres/behavioural/Anne/Gaskett_etal08_AmNat_proof.pdf |archive-date=10 March 2011 }}</ref> The flowers of ''[[Cryptostylis]]'' orchids and female wasp body parts are very similar in colour when viewed under a [[hymenoptera]]n visual system, despite looking unlike to human eyes. Although the colours that ichneumon wasps see are unknown, bees and wasps have similar perception with green, blue and ultraviolet wavelengths.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=A. C. Gaskett |author2=M. E. Herberstein |year=2010 |title=Colour mimicry and sexual deception by Tongue orchids (''Cryptostylis'') |journal=Naturwissenschaften |volume=97 |issue=1 |pages=97–102 |url=http://www.andreluisacosta.com/Bombusterre/Naturwissenschaften/Communication_2010.pdf |access-date=22 November 2010 |doi=10.1007/s00114-009-0611-0 |pmid=19798479 |s2cid=1729573 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The ''Cryptostylis'' flowers have no smell detectable to humans, but have been shown to have an odour which attracts the wasp.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Chemical communication in the sexually deceptive orchid genus Cryptostylis|author1=Schiestl, Florian P. |author2=Peakall, Rod |author3=Mant, Jim |journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society|year=2004|volume=144|issue=2|pages=199–205|doi=10.1111/j.1095-8339.2003.00249.x|doi-access=free}}</ref> Pseudocopulation with the orchid ''Cryptostylis subulata'' occurs in New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite Q|Q58677551}}</ref>

The orchid dupe wasp was first described by Italian entomologist [[Achille Costa]] in 1864 as ''Pimpla excelsa'', before being placed in (and becoming the type species of) the new genus ''[[Lissopimpla]]'' in 1889 by [[Joseph Kriechbaumer]], who called it ''Lissopimpla octo-guttata'' Kriechb. It was also known for many years as ''Lissopimpla semipunctata'', however Costa's name has priority and hence is the correct name.<ref name=parrot>{{cite journal|url=http://rsnz.natlib.govt.nz/volume/rsnz_80/rsnz_80_02_002700.html |journal=Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand |title=New Zealand Ichneumonidae II |author=Parrot, Arthur W. |year=1952 |volume=80 |pages=155–57 |access-date=22 November 2010}}</ref> The head, mesosoma, legs and apical segments of the metasoma are red-brown, the first four segments of the metasoma are black with paired large white spots, and the wings are a dark smoky brown except at the apex of the fore wings.<ref name="parrot" /> Like all members of its family, ''L. excelsa'' is [[parasitic wasp|parasitic]]. One species {{huh?|date=January 2025}} it preys upon is the noctuid moth pest species ''[[Helicoverpa armigera]]''.<ref>{{cite book |title=Pests of field crops and pastures: identification and control |author=Peter T. Bailey |year=2007 |publisher=CSIRO Publishing |location=Collingwood, Victoria |isbn=978-0-643-06758-5 |page=274 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N10sAEHunWEC&dq=Lissopimpla+excelsa&pg=PA274 |access-date=22 November 2010}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Hymenoptera of New Zealand]] [[Category:Ichneumonidae]] [[Category:Insects of Australia]] [[Category:Orchid pollinators]] [[Category:Taxa named by Achille Costa]]