hietakahvahukka
Miscophus spurius
Miscophus spurius is a small, metallic-bodied parasitoid wasp with distinctive dark bronze coloration and reduced wing venation. This critically endangered species plays a vital ecological role as a specialist parasitoid of specific spider species, helping regulate arachnid populations in its native ecosystem.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Hymenoptera
Family
Crabronidae
Genus
Miscophus
hietakahvahukka belongs to the family Crabronidae, order Hymenoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Miscophus spurius is a small, metallic-bodied parasitoid wasp with distinctive dark bronze coloration and reduced wing venation. This critically endangered species plays a vital ecological role as a specialist parasitoid of specific spider species, helping regulate arachnid populations in its native ecosystem.
Miscophus spurius faces severe population declines due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urbanization across its limited range. The species' specialized parasitoid lifestyle makes it particularly vulnerable to pesticide use and the decline of its specific host species, creating cascading effects that threaten remaining populations.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This species inhabits sandy soils in open woodlands, forest edges, and semi-natural grasslands where it can construct its ground-nesting burrows. It requires areas with adequate populations of its specific spider hosts and suitable loose substrate for nest excavation.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Miscophus spurius faces severe population declines due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urbanization across its limited range. The species' specialized parasitoid lifestyle makes it particularly vulnerable to pesticide use and the decline of its specific host species, creating cascading effects that threaten remaining populations.
Decline of specific host insect populations
Habitat loss from agricultural conversion
Pesticide contamination affecting host species
Urban development fragmenting suitable habitat
Climate change altering host-parasitoid dynamics
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). hietakahvahukka (Miscophus spurius). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/hietakahvahukka