Mesquite stinger – Norape tenera

Mesquite stinger – Norape tenera Common Name: Mesquite stinger Latin Name: Norape tenera Appearance: The Mesquite stinger is a tiny black and yellow wasp with a length of around 1 cm. It has a slender, elongated body and narrow wings.

• Egg:The eggs of Mesquite stinger are laid singly on the young leaves of mesquite trees.
• Pupae:The pupae of Mesquite stinger are found inside cocoons made of silk and soil particles.
• Larva:The larvae of Mesquite stinger are small, legless grubs that feed on the mesquite leaves. They have a yellowish-white color with a brown head.
• Adults:The adult Mesquite stinger wasps are black with yellow markings on the abdomen, head, and thorax. They have slender bodies with long antennae.

Host plants: The Mesquite stinger primarily feeds on mesquite trees but can also be found on other plants in the legume family, such as acacia and cassia. Territory: The Mesquite stinger is found in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America. Damages caused by Mesquite stinger: The Mesquite stinger is a parasitic wasp that lays its eggs on the young leaves of mesquite trees. The larvae feed on the mesquite leaves, causing a reduction in leaf surface area, stunting the tree, and reducing pod production. Life history and Habits: The Mesquite stinger has a life cycle of around four weeks. The female wasp lays its eggs on the young mesquite leaves, and the larvae hatch and begin to feed. The larvae eventually pupate inside cocoons made of silk and soil particles. The adult wasps emerge from the cocoons and repeat the cycle. Mesquite stingers are natural predators that help control the mesquite tree population. However, excessive people can cause damage to the trees. Control measures include pruning affected branches and using insecticides or natural predators such as parasitic wasps.