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
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) 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) 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
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013