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Aleiodes

genus

“Mummy-Wasps”

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Aleiodes (Greek ἀ "not", λείος "smooth", εἵδος "appearance") 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. There are thousands of species, including: Aleiodes cacuangoi named after Dolores Cacuango Aleiodes colberti named after Stephen Colbert Aleiodes coxalis Aleiodes dangerlingi named after Dan Gerling Aleiodes elleni…