Pilvisus

Pilvisus is a fictional genus of parasitoid wasps devised for speculative fiction and worldbuilding. In its in-universe taxonomy, Pilvisus is placed in the family Ichneumonidae, within the order Hymenoptera, with several described species appearing in field guides used by characters living in urban megacities.

Taxonomy and species commonly described in the fiction include Pilvisus urbanus and Pilvisus nocturnus. These names reflect imagined habitat and behavior, with urbanus associated with city structures and nocturnus with twilight activity. The genus is described as small, about 6–9 millimeters in length, with a slender body, a long ovipositor, and a metallic sheen ranging from copper to olive.

Life cycle and behavior are depicted as typical for ichneomonid parasitoids in the fictional world. Females lay eggs inside or on host caterpillars that inhabit building facades, parks, and other urban microhabitats. Larvae develop inside the host, eventually killing it, while adults feed on nectar from urban flora. They are often portrayed as most active at dusk and after rain, aligning with host activity patterns in the story’s environment.

Habitat and distribution within the imagined setting place Pilvisus species across temperate megacities on the continent of Veridia, commonly found on building facades, rooftops, and urban green corridors. They are adapted to microhabitats created by human structures and the city’s artificial lighting.

In-universe usage of Pilvisus serves to explore themes of urban ecology, human–nature interfaces, and species adaptation to built environments. It appears in faux field guides, species catalogs, and ecological simulations crafted by fans and authors.

Etymology is noted as a constructed term, intended to evoke urban imagery and slenderness in the fictional setting, rather than drawn from real-world linguistic roots.