Ichneumon | Define Ichneumon at Dictionary.com ichneumon [ik-noo-muh n, -nyoo-] /ɪkˈnu mən, -ˈnyu-/ Spell noun 1. Also called African mongoose, Egyptian mongoose. a slender, long-tailed mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon, inhabiting Africa and southern Europe, and believed by the ancient Egyptians to devour crocodile eggs. 2. 1565-75; < Latin < Greek ichneúmōn tracker, equivalent to ichneú(ein) to track (see ichno- ) + -mōn agent suffix Dictionary.com Unabridged Examples from the Web for ichneumon Expand The King's Own Captain Frederick Marryat Apparently the ichneumon fly (Ophion obscurum), and not the true sawfly, is meant. A Thin Ghost and Others M. R. (Montague Rhodes) James After the ichneumon flies had disappeared, a new difficulty arose. Animal Parasites and Messmates P. J.

Van Beneden British Dictionary definitions for ichneumon Expand a mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon, of Africa and S Europe, having greyish-brown speckled fur Word Origin C16: via Latin from Greek, literally: tracker, hunter, from ikhneuein to track, from ikhnos a footprint; so named from the animal's alleged ability to locate the eggs of crocodiles Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for ichneumon Expand n.

1570s, originally a weasel-like animal in Egypt, Latinized from Greek ikhneumon, literally "searcher, tracker," perhaps because it hunts crocodile eggs, from ikhneuein "hunt for, track," from ikhnos "a track, footstep, trace, clue," of unknown origin. Used by Aristotle for a species of wasp that hunts spiders (a sense in English from 1650s). Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper Egyptian Mongoose - Herpestes ichneumon Egyptian Mongoose - Genus: Herpestes Species: ichneumon The Egyptian mongoose is the largest of all mongooses in Africa. The Egyptian mongoose lives in Africa on the savanna. The savanna is a massive grassland with scattered trees such as thorn trees, and shrubs. The savanna has two seasons, winter, which is very dry, and the summer is wet and warm. They have also been seen in southern Spain. Egyptian mongooses live in shrub thickets, rocky areas, and small woodlands and forested areas within the savanna. These mammals prefer to live in forested areas near water.

All mongooses are known for being talented snake killers. The famous novel written by Rudyard Kipling called Rikki Tikki Tavi made more people aware of the mongoose' s snake killing talents. The Egyptian mongoose ranges anywhere from 19 to 23 inches in height. Adults weigh 4 to 7 lbs. Its tail is 13 to 21 inches long and is very bushy with a black ring at the very end. Egyptian mongooses have long hair. Their coat is usually gray with brown dots. Their coat is sometimes a reddish brown with yellow dots but this is unusual. Egyptian mongooses have a slender, low-slung body. Their heads appear to be pointed due to the shape of their snout. The animal's ears are rounded and don't project over the head due to their small size. The eyes are surrounded by a naked strip of skin. Egyptian mongooses have five finger-like claws on each short limb. The animal' s hind feet are furless. Their front claws are curved and sharp for digging in the earth. They have 35 to 40 teeth that have evolved for tearing flesh apart. Male and female Egyptian mongooses become sexually mature at the age of two years.

Their mating season is in July and August. Actual mating lasts approximately five minutes. Their gestation period lasts approximately eleven weeks and the mothers usually have 2 to 4 young. When the babies are first born they are helpless but after 6 to 8 days they can follow their mother. At birth the babies are blind and furless. The youngsters first open their eyes at 6 to 8 days old. Both of the parents raise the young, but the mother does more so than the father. The juveniles are nursed for six months and remain with their mother for the remainder of the year. When in a pack, the females/mothers take turns babysitting the young. The males/fathers baby-sit the young ones but rarely interact with them. The juveniles are dependent on the parents for approximately one year. The male youngsters usually disperse from the pack or leave their mother before the females. The females may never leave their mother or the pack. Egyptian mongooses produce a litter a year but if the first litter is killed or lost they are able to produce another. The Egyptian mongoose has been seen alone, it has been seen in pairs and it has been seen in packs.

The females lead the packs and there are usually six mongooses per pack. The animal generally lives for 7 to12 years. The Egyptian mongoose is diurnal and is active all day. Egyptian mongooses are mostly carnivorous. They also eat fruit if it is available where they are living. Their typical diet consists of rodents, fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects and insect larvae. Egyptian mongooses also eat the eggs of the animals mentioned above. Egyptian mongooses claws have adapted to digging allowing them to dig bugs out of the ground. Their teeth have adapted to tearing the flesh of animals they prey on. Egyptian mongooses also eat poisonous snakes. They can run backwards, roll over, swim and stand on two hind feet. They can puff their hair up to appear two times their actual size, change directions quickly and jump. This helps the Egyptian mongoose kill snakes and any prey they encounter. They are preyed on by birds of prey and large carnivores on the savanna. Egyptian mongooses benefit the environment by killing animals that are considered to be pests by humans such as rats and snakes. Egyptian mongooses are able to survive in the environment for the following reasons.

The color of their fur blends in with the surroundings of the savanna. The Egyptian mongooses claws also help it survive in the environment by helping it dig for food. Egyptian mongooses are not endangered. They aren't endangered because they are shy which protects them. They are hunted because they attack people's chickens and they eat their poultry. by Alex P. 2003 Ichneumon | Article about ichneumon by The Free Dictionary Ichneumon | Article about ichneumon by The Free Dictionary see mongoose mongoose, name for a large number of small, carnivorous, terrestrial Old World mammals of the civet family. They are found in S Asia and in Africa, with one species extending into S Spain. ..... Click the link for more information. . Ichneumon (Herpestes ichneumon), also African mongoose, a predatory mammal of the genus Herpestes of the family Viverridae. The body length measures up to 65 cm, and the tail length up to 50 cm. The fur is brownish gray. The tail is covered with long hairs.

The ichneumon is distributed in North Africa, Asia Minor, and southwestern Europe (Iberian Peninsula); it has become acclimatized in Yugoslavia, in Italy, and on the island of Madagascar. It lives in thickets, sometimes near human habitation. A nocturnal animal, it feeds on small rodents, birds, snakes, and insects. It is beneficial for its extermination of snakes, but, contrary to popular belief, it is susceptible to their venom. The ichneumon sometimes destroys poultry. ichneumon Ichneumon | definition of ichneumon by Medical dictionary Ichneumon | definition of ichneumon by Medical dictionary Also found in: Dictionary , Thesaurus , Encyclopedia , Wikipedia . mongoose small, cat-sized mammal in the family Viverridae. There are a number of varieties and genera including the Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) and the banded mongoose (Mungos mungo). A voracious eater of rodents and reptiles and a favorite house pet. Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content .

Link to this page: Viverridae References in periodicals archive ? But after the discovery of the ichneumon wasp's modus operandi, nineteenth-century intellectuals were not as epistemologically optimistic about spiritual perceptio n. "God's Grandeur": Gerard Manley Hopkins' Reply to the Speculative Atheist [1] The slew of fragmented dog remains were similar to modern-day Australian dingoes but the haul also included remains of cats, falcons, jackals, foxes, bulls and a few Egyptian mongooses called ichneumon. Afrotropical species of Diaparsis Forster, 1869 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tersilochinae) The animals represented include falcons as well as lizards, snakes, shrew mice, and ichneumons. Copyright © 2003-2017 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only.

This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Ancient Egyptian bestiary: Snakes Ancient Egyptian bestiary: Snakes <a href="../ifwindow.htm" target="_blank">Search</a> Printout For best results save the whole webpage (pictures included) onto your hard disk, open the page with Word 97 or higher, edit if necessary and print. Printing using the browser's print function is not recommended. Snakes About three dozen species of snakes live in Egypt, quite a few of them highly poisonous but most harmless to humans. They populate all possible environments, from the sandy desert to the marshy Nile delta. The attitude of the Egyptians towards them has always been ambivalent. On the one hand many snakes were perceived to be beneficial, ridding the country of mice and rats , which caused great damage to stored food, on the other hand many deaths were the consequence of snake bites, and the physicians were unable to do much more than invoke the assistance of the gods, known physical remedies being almost worthless.

Tutankhamen's golden mask sporting a single uraeus on his crown Courtesy Jon Bodsworth Some of the snakes dangerous to humans are cobras . among them the Egyptian cobra, Naja haje, which was considered to be a guardian of the ancient Egyptian kingship. Another is the Spitting Cobra which defends itself by spraying poison in the eyes of any animal threatening it.Another family of poisonous snakes is that of the vipers. The horned viper , Cerastes cornutus, the image of which was used as the hieroglyph representing the f-sound, was also much feared, the report of Herodotus about its innocuousness notwithstanding: In the neighbourhood of Thebes there are some sacred serpents which are perfectly harmless. They are of small size, and have two horns growing out of the top of the head. These snakes, when they die, are buried in the temple of Jupiter, the god to whom they are sacred.

Herodotus, Euterpe, 74.1 Other vipers are also occur in Egypt: the Egyptian Saw Scaled Viper, Echis pyramidum, which, when threatened, makes a distinctive sizzling sound by rubbing its scales together, the Palestine Saw-scaled Viper (also called Burton's Carpet Viper), Echis coloratus, found in the eastern part of the country, and others, Strabo mentions a number of Egyptian animals in his writings and was especially impressed by the snakes: The animals peculiar to the country (i.e. Egypt) are the ichneumon and the Egyptian asp, having some properties which those in other places do not possess. There are two kinds, one a span in length, whose bite is more suddenly mortal than that of the other; the second is nearly an orguia [six feet] in size, according to Nicander, the author of the Theriaca. Strabo, Geography Text scanned and modernized by J. S. Arkenberg, Dept. of History, Cal. State Fullerton In the Papyrus Lansing the life of the peasant is described unfavourably, as was the wont of scribes, and snakes are accused of destroying grain harvests.

He spends time cultivating, and the snake is after him. It finishes off the seed as it is cast to the ground. He does not see a green blade. M. Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Vol.2, p.170 Fear and ignorance reigned, and knowledge of snakes and their habits was - and still is in most quarters - slight. The Papyrus Insinger quotes a number of sayings concerning snakes: He who is bitten of the bite of a snake is afraid of a coil of rope The hissing of the snake is more effective than the braying of the donkey. A snake that is eating has no venom. Death comes to the snake because of its love of biting. The small snake has poison. The snake on which one steps ejects a strong poison. M. Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Vol 3, p.170ff The reactions of people to their appearance were often irrational and exaggerated. In the story of The Doomed Prince a snake drank itself into a stupor: Then his wife filled a [bowl] with [wine (?)] and another bowl with beer. Thereupon a [snake] came out [of its] hole to bite the youth.

But his wife was sitting beside him, not sleeping. [She placed the bowls before (?)] the snake. It drank, it became drunk, it lay down on its back. Then [the woman had] it hacked to pieces with her axe. M. Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Vol.2, p.202 In mythology Chthonic animals were mysterious to the ancient Egyptians: their origin was unclear as if they had seemingly come into existence without a creator. They were life-creating themselves. Serpents were even more puzzling than other denizens of the underworld. They shed their skin and became therefore symbols of rebirth after death. The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, saith:- I am the serpent Sata whose years are infinite. I lie down dead. I am born daily. I am the serpent Sa-en-ta, the dweller in the uttermost parts of the earth. I lie down in death. I am born, I become new, I renew my youth every day.

The Book Ani, translated by Budge The endlessness of the sea and the relationship between being and non-being were symbolized by a snake, the ouroboros, coiled around the world and biting its own tail. It also stood for resurrection and the power of renewal. Similarly, the Ahay or metwi serpent expressed for the cyclical nature of time. The ouroboros is first depicted on a shrine found in the tomb of Tutankhamen, a picture of the metwi can be seen in the Book of Gates of Seti I.[ 1 ] The attitude towards snakes was ambiguous. They were both destroyers and protectors. If the poisonous species, of which there are a few dozens in Egypt such as the cobra and the horned viper , were feared, the non-poisonous snakes were venerated for the role they played in the extermination of rodents. Among the positive deities the four female goddesses of the ogdoad of gods sported serpent heads, the males had the form of toads, chthonic animals as well. Amen as primordial creator assumed the form of Kematef, a snake.

Thermutis, the harvest goddess, was honoured in the form of a snake during the vintage and corn harvest. Uto , the protectress of Lower Egypt, was a fire-spitting snake, often called the Fiery Eye of Re . It was probably the origin of the uraeus, carried on their crowns by the pharaohs since the Middle Kingdom (see cobra ). Nehebka was a double-headed serpent living in the Underworld ... Let me fly like a hawk, let me cackle like a goose, let me lay always like the serpent-goddess Neheb-ka. The Book Ani, translated by Budge ...and Re was protected on his journey through the dark by Mehen , depicted as a sinuous snake surrounding the god's cabin on his solar boat.

Mafdet , in the shape of a mongoose generally known as a destroyer of evil snakes, is a lion-headed serpent in the Pyramid Texts,[ 2 ] and abS is the snake-form of Sobek.[ 4 ] The aHa.w, the standing one, was an epithet for guardian snakes in th Papyrus of Nu.[ 3 ] One of the principal destructive beings was the dragonlike Apophis, a poisonous water snake thirty cubits long, waylaying Re and held in check by Seth who was the only being unaffected by the stare of the snake. The realm of the Dead was inhabited by snake demons of many kinds, some winged , others standing up on legs (!). Some were spitting fire, some were armed with a knife. In the Hymns to Re the fall of his enemies, among them the ass and various serpents, is celebrated Thine enemy the Serpent hath been given over to the fire. The Serpent-fiend Sebau hath fallen headlong, his forelegs are bound in chains, and his hind legs hath Ra carried away from him. ........

Thou in thy shrine hast joy, for the Serpent-fiend Nak hath been judged by the fire, and thy heart shall rejoice for ever. The Book Ani, translated by Budge Among the 40 demons before whom the dead had to justify themselves was Amenti: Hail, serpent Amenti who comes from the house of slaughter, I have not defiled the wife of a man. The Book of the Dead, chapter 125 [ ] The picture from the grave of Djed-djehutefankh at Deir el Bahri courtesy Jon Bodsworth. [1] Ian Shaw, Paul Nicholson, The British Museum Dictionary of Ancient Egypt, British Museum Press 1995, pp.262f. [2] Thesaurus Linguae Aegyptiae website : Altägyptisches Wörterbuch, Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften => Pyramidentexte => Pyramide Pepis I.

=> Vorkammer => Ostwand => PT 1036 [3] Thesaurus Linguae Aegyptiae website: Totenbuchprojekt, Nordrhein-Westfälische Akademie der Wissenschaften => pLondon BM EA 10477 (pNu) => Tb 035 [4] Thesaurus Linguae Aegyptiae website: Altägyptisches Wörterbuch, Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften => Pyramidentexte => Pyramide Pepis I. => Eingang => Westwand => PT 317 Female Ichneumon wasp (I) · David Kennard Photography Female Ichneumon wasp Caption / Description: A female Ichneumon wasp rests on a leaf. A mite can be seen crawling on her hind leg, and another mite underneath the abdomen. Ichneumonidae is a family within the insect order Hymenoptera. Insects in this family are commonly called ichneumon wasps.

Less exact terms are ichneumon flies (they are not closely related to true flies), or scorpion wasps due to the extreme lengthening and curving of the abdomen (scorpions are not insects). Simply but ambiguously these insects are commonly called "ichneumons", which is also a term for the Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon); ichneumonids is often encountered as a less ambiguous alternative. Ichneumon wasps are important parasitoids of other insects. Common hosts are larvae and pupae of Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera. There are over 60,000 species worldwide, and approximately 3,000 in North America - more than any other Hymenoptera family. The distribution of Ichneumonidae is one of the most notable exceptions to the common latitudinal gradient in species diversity because it shows greater speciation at high latitudes than at low latitudes.

Ichneumon wasps differ from typical wasps, which sting in defense (Aculeata: Vespoidea and Apoidea), in that the antennae have more segments; typically 16 or more, whereas the others have 13 or fewer. An ichneumon wasp's abdomen is characteristically very elongated, unlike in their relatives the braconids. This lengthened section may also be segmented. Female ichneumon wasps frequently exhibit an ovipositor longer than their body. Ovipositors and stingers are homologous structures; some Ichneumons inject venom along with the egg, but they do not use the ovipositor as a stinger, per se, except in the subfamily Ophioninae. Stingers in aculeate Hymenoptera - which like Ichneumonidae belong to the Apocrita - are used exclusively for defense; they cannot be used as egg-laying equipment. Males do not possess stingers or ovipositors in either lineage. Description taken from Wikipedia: Tags / Keywords: ichneumon ichneumon /ik nooh"meuhn, -nyooh"-/, n. 1.

Also called African mongoose . a slender, long-tailed mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon, inhabiting Africa and southern Europe, and believed by the ancient Egyptians to devour crocodile eggs. [1565-75; < L < Gk ichneúmon tracker, equiv. to ichneú(ein) to track (see ICHNO- ) + -mon agent suffix] * * * ▪ insect any of a large and widely distributed insect group (order Hymenoptera) of considerable economic importance. The name sometimes refers to any member of the superfamily Ichneumonoidea, which includes the families Stephanidae, Braconidae, and Ichneumonidae. The Stephanidae, a largely tropical group, consists of several hundred species, and the Braconidae is a large, widely distributed group found in both temperate and tropical regions. About 40,000 ichneumon species are known. Adults vary considerably in shape, colour, and size, averaging about 1.2 cm ( about 1/2 inch) long.

The largest ichneumons of North America, those of the genus Megarhyssa, reach 5 cm in length. Most species resemble wasps in having a long, slender, curved abdomen. They usually differ from the stinging wasps in having longer antennae with more segments, or sections. The ovipositor, or egg-laying organ, is often longer than the body. Many species have a dark spot on the fore wing. Ichneumons parasitize ( parasitism ) many insect groups, especially Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), Coleoptera (beetles), and other Hymenoptera. Some utilize spiders as hosts. Thus, the group as a whole is beneficial to humans because it parasitizes many insect pests. A relatively small number of species parasitize beneficial insects. The females lay their eggs in or on the larvae or pupae (rarely eggs or adults) of the host. The ichneumon larva feeds on the fats and body fluids of the host until fully grown, then usually spins a silken cocoon.

The species that parasitize hosts in open habitats usually develop as internal parasites, whereas those that attack hosts in concealed places, such as wood burrows, usually feed on the host externally. In most cases a single larva develops in one host. However, in some cases, many larvae develop in a single host. * * * Ichneumon — ? Ichneumon Ichneumon suspiciosus Научная классификация Царство … Википедия Ichneumon — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Herpestes ichneumon … Wikipédia en Français Ichneumon — (Zeichnung von Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber) Systematik Überordnung: Laurasiatheria … Deutsch Wikipedia ichneumon — [ iknømɔ̃ ] n. m. • 1562; « mangouste » 1547; mot lat., du gr. ikhneumôn « qui suit à la piste » ♦ Zool. Insecte hyménoptère térébrant (ichneumonidés) dont la larve est parasite des chenilles.

● ichneumon nom masculin (latin ichneumon, onis, du… … Encyclopédie Universelle ICHNEUMON — Heracleopolitis olim cultus, Clem Alex. Protrept. p. 19. et Aelian. de Anim. l. 10. c. 47. ubi et Latonae ac Lucinae eos sacros fuisse, scribit. Arsinoitis contra neglectus, ut quibus crocodili summo in honore erant, quorum ova non solum… … Hofmann J. Lexicon universale ichneumon — [ik no͞o′mən, iknyo͞o′mən] n. [L &LT; Gr ichneumōn, ichneumon, lit., tracker &LT; ichneuein, to track out, hunt after &LT; ichnos, a track, footprint (from its supposed practice of locating and destroying crocodile eggs)] 1. the Egyptian mongoose … English World dictionary Ichneumon — Ich*neu mon, n. [L., fr. Gr.

?, lit., the tracker; so called because it hunts out the eggs of the crocodile, fr. ? to track or hunt after, fr. i chnos track, footstep.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) Any carnivorous mammal of the genus {Herpestes}, and family… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English Ichneumon — can mean: *The ichneumon wasps *The Egyptian Mongoose, Herpestes ichneumon *A supposed animal described in medieval writings: see Ichneumon (In medieval zoology) … Wikipedia Ichneumon — Ichneumon, 1) Herpestes Ill., Mangiste Oliv. Cuv., Raubthiergattung aus der Familie der Viverrinen, mit sechs Backenzähnen oben u. unten jederseits, von denen die drei ersten Lückenzähne sind u.

der erste im Oberkiefer leicht ausfällt; die… … Pierer's Universal-Lexikon Ichneumon — (Manguste, Herpestes Ill.), Raubtiergattung aus der Familie der Schleichkatzen (Viverridae), Zehengänger mit gestrecktem Körper, kleinem oder mittelgroßem Kopf, spitziger Schnauze, kurzer, nackter Nase, abgerundeten, kurzen Ohren, niedrigen… … Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon Ichneumon — (Herpestes Ichneumon), marderähnliches Raubsäugethier, ohne den langen, mit einem Haarbüschel versehenen Schwanz gegen 1 lang, schlank, findet sich in Nordafrika, besonders in Aegypten, lebt von Mäusen, Schlangen, Fröschen, auch von Eiern,… … Herders Conversations-Lexikon 16+ Ichneumon Wasp Sightings, Locations, Photos and Dates Ichneumon Wasp Sightings General Information - Display Sightings - View Map - Photo Gallery - Date & Location Report

 - Submit Sighting Article below from Wikipedia entry: Ichneumonidae The Ichneumonidae are a family within the order Hymenoptera.

Insects in this family are commonly called ichneumon wasps. Less exact terms are ichneumon flies (they are not closely related to true flies), or scorpion wasps due to the extreme lengthening and curving of the abdomen (scorpions are arachnids). Simply but ambiguously, these insects are commonly called "ichneumons", which is also a term for the Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon); ichneumonids is often encountered as a less ambiguous alternative. Ichneumon wasps are important parasitoids of other insects. Common hosts are larvae and pupae of Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera. Over 60,000 species occur worldwide, with about 3,000 in North America - more than any other Hymenoptera family.

The distribution of Ichneumonidae is one of the most notable exceptions to the common latitudinal gradient in species diversity because it shows greater speciation at high latitudes than at low latitudes.[1] Charles Darwin discussed the Ichneumonidae with regard to his views on religion; see Darwin and the Ichneumonidae, below. Contents 3.1 The process of oviposition in Dolichomitus imperator 4 Taxonomy and systematics 7 Darwin and the Ichneumonidae 8 See also 11.4 Other Description Ichneumon wasps differ from typical, aculeate wasps, which sting in defense and do not pass their eggs along the stinger (Aculeata: Vespoidea and Apoidea), in that the antennae have more segments; typically 16 or more, whereas the others have 13 or fewer. Female ichneumon wasps sometimes have an ovipositor longer than their body.

Ovipositors and stingers are homologous structures; Ichneumons generally inject venom along with the egg, but only larger species, with relatively shorter ovipositors, use the ovipositor as a stinger in defense. Stingers in aculeate Hymenoptera - which like Ichneumonidae belong to the Apocrita - are used exclusively for defense; they cannot be used as egg-laying equipment. Males do not possess stingers or ovipositors in either lineage. Ichneumonidae wing morphology Braconidae wing morphology Distinction from Braconidae Ichneumonidae are distinguished from their sister group Braconidae by these character combinations. Vein 2m-cu of the forewing is present in 95% of Ichneumonidae - it is absent in Braconidae; vein 1/Rs+M is absent in all Ichneumonidae- it is present in 85% of Braconidae.

Vein 1R-M of the hind wing is opposite or apical to the separation of R1 and Rs in Ichneumonidae- it is basal in Braconidae. About 90% of Ichneumonidae have a flexible suture between metasomal terga 2 and 3 -these tergites are fused in Braconidae (though the suture is secondarily flexible in Aphidiinae).[2] Reproduction and oviposition Males search for females for mating Some species of ichneumon wasps lay their eggs in the ground, but most inject them directly into a host's body, typically into a larva or pupa. Host information has been notably summed up by J.F. Aubert, et al.[3] In some of the largest species, namely from the genera Megarhyssa and Rhyssa, both sexes will wander over the surfaces of logs and tree trunks, tapping with their antennae.

Each sex does so for a different reason; females are searching for the scent of wood-boring larvae of the horntail wasps (hymenopteran family Siricidae) upon which to lay eggs; males are searching for emerging females with which to mate. Upon sensing the vibrations emitted by a wood-boring host, the female wasp will drill her ovipositor into the substrate until it reaches the cavity wherein lies the host. She then injects an egg through the hollow tube into the body cavity. There, the egg will hatch and the resulting larva will devour its host before emergence. How a female is able to drill with her ovipositor into solid wood is still somewhat of a mystery, though metal (ionized manganese or zinc) is found in the extreme tip of some species' ovipositors. The adult insect, following pupation, is faced with the problem of extricating itself from tunnels of its host.

Fortunately, the high metal concentrations are not limited to the female's ovipositor, as the mandibles of the adult are also hardened with metals and it uses these to chew itself out of the wood.[4] The process of oviposition in Dolichomitus imperator Tapping with her antennae, the wasp detects and localizes scent and vibrations that indicate a host is present. With the longer ovipositor, the wasp drills a hole through the bark. The wasp inserts the ovipositor into the cavity which contains the host larva. Making corrections. Depositing her eggs. Taxonomy and systematics The Ichneumonidae are the subject of ongoing taxonomical difficulty. About as diverse as the true weevils (Curculionidae), there are numerous small, inconspicuous and hard-to-identify ichneumon wasps. The sheer diversity means DNA sequence data are only available for a tiny fraction of the species, and detailed cladistic studies require major-scale computing capacity. Consequently, the phylogeny and systematics of the ichneumon wasps are not definitely resolved. Several prominent authors - such as H. T. Townes and J.

Oehlke - have gone as far as to publish major reviews that defy the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.[5] Regardless, a number of seminal works exist, including the extensive study and the synonymic catalogue by Townes, but also treatments by other entomologists, namely J. F. Aubert, whose notable collection of ichneumon wasps is in Lausanne.[6] Subfamilies The list presented here follows the suggestion of David Wahl of the American Entomological Institute.[7] It will be updated as necessary, as new research refines the interrelationships of the ichneumon wasps.

The subfamilies are not listed in a taxonomic or phylogenetic sequence, as the relationships between the groups are not yet resolved to a degree to render any such arrangement reliable:[7] Acaenitinae Brachycyrtinae (sometimes included in Labiinae) Campopleginae (= Porizontinae) Cylloceriinae (= Oxytorinae, sometimes included in Microleptinae) Diacritinae (sometimes included in Pimplinae) Diplazontinae Eucerotinae (sometimes included in Tryphoninae) Ichneumoninae Lycorininae (sometimes included in Banchinae) Mesochorinae Neorhacodinae (sometimes included in Banchinae) Ophioninae Orthocentrinae (sometimes included in Microleptinae) Orthopelmatinae Paxylommatinae (sometimes not placed in Ichneumonidae at all) Pedunculinae Poemeniinae (sometimes included in Pimplinae) Rhyssinae (sometimes included in Pimplinae) Stilbopinae (sometimes

 included in Banchinae) Tatogastrinae (sometimes included in Microleptinae or Oxytorinae) Tersilochinae Constantin Wesmael Darwin and the Ichneumonidae The grisliness and apparent cruelty (at least, from a human perspective) of Ichneumonidae larval cannibalism troubled philosophers, naturalists, and theologians in the 19th century, who found the practice inconsistent with the notion of a world created by a loving and benevolent God.[9] Charles Darwin found the example of the Ichneumonidae so troubling, it contributed to his increasing doubts about the nature and existence of a Creator.

In an 1860 letter to the American naturalist Asa Gray, Darwin wrote: I own that I cannot see as plainly as others do, and as I should wish to do, evidence of design and beneficence on all sides of us. There seems to me too much misery in the world. I cannot persuade myself that a beneficent and omnipotent God would have designedly created the Ichneumonidae with the express intention of their feeding within the living bodies of Caterpillars, or that a cat should play with mice.[10] See also Checklist of UK recorded Ichneumonidae Footnotes ^ Sime & Brower (1998) ^ Sharkey, M.J. (1993), Family Braconidae, pp. 362-394. In: Goulet, H. and J. Huber (eds.). Hymenoptera of the world, an identification guide to families, Agriculture Canada Research Branch Monograph No. 1894E. ^ Aubert (1969, 1978, 2000), Perkins (1959, 1960), Townes et al.

(1965) ^ Ross Piper (2007), Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals, Greenwood Press ^ Oehlke (1966, 1967), Townes (1969abc, 1971) ^ Aubert (1969, 1978, 2000), Gauld (1976), Perkins (1959, 1960), Townes (1969abc, 1971), Townes et al. (1965) ^ a b Wahl (1999) ^ "Letter 2814 — Darwin, C. R. to Gray, Asa, 22 May [1860]". Retrieved 2011-04-05. References Aubert, J. F. (1969): Les Ichneumonides ouest-palearctiques et leurs hotes 1. Pimplinae, Xoridinae, Acaenitinae ["The Western Palearctic ichneumon wasps and their hosts. 1.

Pimplinae, Xoridinae, Acaenitinae"]. Laboratoire d'Evolution des Etres Organises, Paris. [in French] Aubert, J. F. (1978): Les Ichneumonides ouest-palearctiques et leurs hotes 2. Banchinae et Suppl. aux Pimplinae ["The Western Palearctic ichneumon wasps and their hosts. 2. Banchinae and supplement to the Pimplinae"]. Laboratoire d'Evolution des Etres Organises, Paris & EDIFAT-OPIDA, Echauffour. [in French] Aubert, J. F. (2000): Les ichneumonides oeust-palearctiques et leurs hotes. 3. Scolobatinae (=Ctenopelmatinae) et suppl. aux volumes precedents [The West Palaearctic ichneumonids and their hosts. 3. Scolobatinae (= Ctenopelmatinae) and supplements to preceding volumes]. Litterae Zoologicae 5: 1-310.

[French with English abstract] Fitton, M. G. & Gauld, I. D. (1976): The family-group names of the Ichneumonidae (excluding Ichneumoninae) (Hymenoptera). Systematic Entomology 1: 247-258. Fitton, M. G. & Gauld, I. D. (1978): Further notes on family-group names of Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera). Systematic Entomology 3: 245-247. Gauld, I. D. (1976): The classification of the Anomaloninae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History (Entomology) 33: 1-135. Oehlke J. (1966): Die westpaläarktische Arte der Tribus Poemeniini (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) ["The Western Palearctic species of the tribe Poemeniini"].

Beiträge zur Entomologie 15: 881-892. Oehlke J. (1967): Westpaläarktische Ichneumonidae 1, Ephialtinae. Hymenopterorum Catalogus (new edition) 2: 1-49. Perkins, J. F. (1959): Ichneumonidae, key to subfamilies and Ichneumoninae – 1. Handbook for the Identification of British Insects 7(part 2ai): 1–116. Perkins, J. F. (1960): Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea: Ichneumonidae, subfamilies Ichneumoninae 2, Alomyinae, Agriotypinae and Lycorininae. Handbook for the Identification of British Insects 7(part 2aii): 1–96. Sime, K., & Brower, A. (1998): Explaining the latitudinal gradient anomaly in ichneumonid species richness: evidence from butterflies.

Journal of Animal Ecology 67: 387-399 Tereshkin, A. (2009): Illustrated key to the tribes of subfamilia Ichneumoninae and genera of the tribe Platylabini of world fauna (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae). Linzer biol. Beitr. 41/2: 1317-1608. PDF Townes, H. T. (1969a): Genera of Ichneumonidae, Part 1 (Ephialtinae, Tryphoninae, Labiinae, Adelognathinae, Xoridinae, Agriotypinae). Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 11: 1-300. Townes, H. T. (1969b): Genera of Ichneumonidae, Part 2 (Gelinae). Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 12: 1-537. Townes, H. T.

(1969c): Genera of Ichneumonidae, Part 3 (Lycorininae, Banchinae, Scolobatinae, Porizontinae). Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 13: 1-307. Townes, H. T. (1971): Genera of Ichneumonidae, Part 4 (Cremastinae, Phrudinae, Tersilochinae, Ophioninae, Mesochorinae, Metopiinae, Anomalinae, Acaenitinae, Microleptinae, Orthopelmatinae, Collyriinae, Orthocentrinae, Diplazontinae). Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 17: 1-372. Townes, H. T. ; Momoi, S. A. & Townes, M. (1965): Catalogue and Reclassification of Eastern Palearctic Ichneumonidae Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 5: 1-661 pages.

Wahl, David (1999): Classification and Systematics of the Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera). Version of 1999-JUL-19. Retrieved 2008-JUN-18. External links

Question: The Egyptian species of which small mammal is also called the ichneumon?
Answer: Mongoose