Posted by Sundew on 14-06-2011 00:18
#1
Hi,
recently I watched a
Clythra laeviuscula female in egg-dropping position. This beetle covers each egg with excrement flakes and then drops it from an elevated position. Ants pick up the eggs and carry them into their nest, where the beetle larvae develop, feeding on debris and food of the ant brood. - While the female was preparing the egg, a tiny wasp watched the scene and then got closer and closer, climbing on the beetle's feet and the egg. Then the egg was dropped together with the wasp.
Does anyone know if the behaviour of the wasp was more than incidental? Is this tiny animal a parasite of
Clythra? And which family does it belong to?
Many thanks for any information, Sundew
Posted by Cesa on 21-06-2011 08:00
#2
Probably Pteromalidae (superfamily Chalcidoidea).
These tiny wasps are parasitoids on the eggs of Chrysomelidae, and some other families of other insects.
Beautiful photos! Congratulation.
Posted by Sundew on 23-06-2011 20:48
#3
Many thanks, Cesa, this is a very interesting and helpful information!