Dinocampus coccinellae
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Dinocampus coccinellae is a braconid wasp parasite of coccinellid beetles, including the spotted lady beetle, Coleomegilla maculata. It is the only species in the genus Dinocampus. D. coccinellae has been described as turning its ladybird host into a temporary "zombie" guarding the wasp cocoon. About 25% of Coleomegilla maculata recover after the cocoon they are guarding matures, although the proportion of other ladybird species which recover is much lower.
In 1802, Schrank first described a female adult of this species as "Lady-bird killer 2155. Deep black, eyes green; head, front legs, and apex of the petiolate abdomen mussel-brown." (A petiolate abdomen is one whose basal segment is stalk-like, that is, long and slender.) Nearly all D. coccinellae are female offspring of unfertilized eggs, although males are also occasionally found. The male, when observed, has no ovipositor and is slimmer and darker than females.
The mature female wasp seeks out adult female ladybirds, although they will sometimes oviposit into a male adult or larval instar. One egg is planted in the host's soft underbelly. The wasp larva hatches after 5–7 days into a first instar... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamburg | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 2 | Berlin | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 3 | Portland | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Birmingham | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 5 | Auckland | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 6 | Vancouver | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 7 | Prague | 🇨🇿 Czechia | |
| 8 | London | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 9 | Vienna | 🇦🇹 Austria | |
| 10 | San Francisco | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Ladybird Parasitoid Wasp sighting in Auckland on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 574th most-seen of the 689 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February and March
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Ladybird Parasitoid Wasp in Auckland on a given day, against under 5% in April to January, the lowest months.
5th of 10
Of the 10 cities where we can rate Ladybird Parasitoid Wasp sightings, Auckland ranks 5th at under 5%. The best odds are in Hamburg (Germany, about 10%), Berlin (Germany, under 5%) and Portland (United States, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Ladybird Parasitoid Wasp is recorded against all the insects logged in Auckland (6 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
