Parasitic wasp on end-of-the-year aphids...rjlittlefield

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twebster
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Joined: Wed Jul 26, 2006 8:02 am
Location: Phoenix "Valley of the Sun", Arizona, USA

Parasitic wasp on end-of-the-year aphids...rjlittlefield

Post by twebster »

Submitted by rjlittlefield...

Last week, I posted out some pictures of "End-of-the-year aphids".

Those pics included some strange-looking skins with holes, that were probably the leftovers of parasitic wasps.

Today, I think I have one of the responsible wasps.
Image
This little wasp was very persistent and methodical about checking out aphids. I actually snapped about 50 shots before I got too tired to hold still. I was hoping to see it attempt egg laying, but no such luck -- all I saw was antenna tapping. But that was pretty cool!

Great thanks here are due to my mother, whom I think I will christen "Grandma EagleEyes" for spotting this wasp while picking the rapidly ripening seedpods for next year. And of course to Charlie Krebs, who let me know what to look for.

Technical data are same as last time. This image is about 1/3 x 2/3 frame.

--Rik

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