An Orasema ant-parasite wasp (Eucharitidae) lays an egg in a Heliconius leaf. The young hatchling will attempt to hitchhike on a passing ant into the nest, where it will prey on developing larvae.

Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia
An Orasema ant-parasite wasp (Eucharitidae) lays an egg in a Heliconius leaf. The young hatchling will attempt to hitchhike on a passing ant into the nest, where it will prey on developing larvae.

Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia
Leptopilina boulardi (Figitidae) is a parasitoid wasp that attacks the larvae of drosophilid fruit flies. Here, a female probes a rotting banana with her ovipositor.

Laboratory culture at Emory University, Georgia, USA
Leptopilina boulardi (Figitidae)

Laboratory culture at Emory University, Georgia, USA
Trichopria drosophilae (Diapriidae) is a parasitoid wasp that attacks the pupae of drosophilid fruit flies. Here, a female probes a pupa with her ovipositor.

Laboratory culture at Emory University, Georgia, USA
A wasp egg (Pison sp., Crabronidae) on a paralyzed spider.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
Breaking open the sealed mud cell of a Pison mud wasp (Crabronidae) reveals a cache of paralyzed spiders. By not killing the spiders outright, the wasp's larvae can eat them before they start to rot.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
A Dipogon spider wasp drags a paralyzed spider back to the nest.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A Dipogon spider wasp drags a paralyzed spider back to the nest.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Breaking open the sealed mud cell of a Pison mud wasp (Crabronidae) reveals a cache of paralyzed spiders. By not killing the spiders outright, the wasp's larvae can eat them before they start to rot.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
Breaking open the sealed mud cell of a Pison mud wasp (Crabronidae) reveals a cache of paralyzed spiders. By not killing the spiders outright, the wasp's larvae can eat them before they start to rot.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
Breaking open the sealed mud cell of a Pison mud wasp (Crabronidae) reveals a cache of paralyzed spiders. By not killing the spiders outright, the wasp's larvae can eat them before they start to rot.

Yandoit, Victoria, Australia
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013