About Diplazon laetatorius (Fabricius, 1781)
Diplazon laetatorius (Fabricius, 1781) is a species of parasitoid wasp that targets hover flies. It belongs to the Diplazontinae subfamily of the ichneumon wasp family Ichneumonidae. This species was first described in 1781 by Johan Christian Fabricius under the original name Ichneumon laetatorius. In terms of ecology, adult Diplazon laetatorius feed on floral nectar, and they prefer flowers that belong to the umbellifer family. Female wasps lay their eggs on or close to the eggs and larvae of hoverflies, which are members of the family Syrphidae. Developing Diplazon laetatorius larvae consume their hover fly host from the inside out. Once they finish their development, they emerge from the host as fully grown adult wasps.
