Cuckoo Wasp - Family CHRYSIDIDAE, ssubfamily Chrysidinae

This page contains pictures and information about the Cuckoo Wasps that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.


Body length 25mm

There are many Cuckoo Wasp species and they look similar. Usually they are metallic blue or green in colour. Most species are external parasites of other wasp larvae. Females lay eggs in nest of other wasps (Eumeninae of Vespidae and Sphecidae) while the nest host collect food for larvae. Cuckoo Wasp larvae hatch and feed on the food or the host larvae.

The adult Cuckoo Wasp's back is well armoured and with abdomen concave beneath. When disturbed, it curl up into a ball. This is a defense behavior against the attack by angry nest host.



Cuckoo Wasps are common in Brisbane suburban. They are usually seen flying slowly looking for wasp nest. The wasp in the above photos was collected by our friend Ben inside his house in Brisbane during mid summer. We set it free after we took those photos.

Reference and Link:
1. Insects of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University Press, 2nd Edition 1991, pp 973.