Although we have seen this wasp on only a few occasions, according to Gauld (1984, page 332) it is "A very common insect" which is a parasite of at least 4 species of moth larva. The female injects an egg into a relatively immature larva, but most stages of the wasp larva develop in the host pupa, from which the adult wasp emerges.
Classification
from Australian Faunal Directory
Order Hymenoptera - Wasps, Ants, Bees and Sawflies, 12202 named species in Australia
Family Ichneumonidae - parasitic wasps, 472 named species in Australia
Subfamily Anomaloninae - 22 named species in Australia
Genus Heteropelma
Species Heteropelma scaposum
References
- Gauld, I.D. (1984) An introduction to the Ichneumonidae of Australia. British Museum of Natural History.