Ixodiphagus hookeri

Taxobox
name = "Ixodiphagus hookeri"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Hymenoptera
subordo = Apocrita
familia = Encyrtidae
genus = "Ixodiphagus"
species = "I. hookeri"
binomial = "Ixodiphagus hookeri"
binomial_authority = Howard, 1907

The Chalcid wasp "Ixodiphagus hookeri" lays its eggs into ticks. It seems to utilize a symbiotic virus to weaken the tick's immune system.

Ticks from the following genera are infected:
*"Amblyomma"
*"Dermacentor"
*"Haemaphysalis"
*"Hyalomma"
*"Ixodes" (for example "Ixodes ricinus")
*"Rhipicephalus"

Because of the importance of "I. hookeri" as a natural enemy of ticks, it has been extensively researched.

Distribution

"I. hookeri" occurs worldwide (except Antarctica).

ynonyms

"I. hookeri" is also known under the following synonyms:
* "I. caucurtei" Buysson 1912
* "Hunterellus hookeri" Howard, 1908
* "Habrolepis caniphila" Risbec, 1951

External links

* [http://www.nhm.ac.uk/jdsml/research-curation/projects/chalcidoids/detail.dsml?VALGENUS=Ixodiphagus&VALSPECIES=hookeri&VALAUTHOR=%28Howard%29&VALDATE=1908&ValidAuthBracket=true&HOMCODE=0 "I. hookeri" at the Universal Chalcidoidea Database]