Parasitic wasp, Podagrion species, which targets the egg cases of praying mantis

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This parasitic wasp (Podagrion sp.) lays her eggs in the egg cases of mantids (praying mantis). As you can see from the photograph here this female has a long ovipositor, but she must insert it in a mantid egg case before it hardens. To achieve this she either follows the mantid female or hitches a ride (a behaviour known in zoology as phoresy). As soon as the mantid egg case is complete, she inserts her eggs inside. The wasp eggs hatch and the emerging wasp grubs feed on the mantid eggs within the protection of the mantid egg case.

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Size: 4256px × 2832px
Location: Pomonal, Victoria, Australia
Photo credit: © Denis Crawford / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: australia, case, egg, female, hymenoptera, insect, macro, mantis, ootheca, parasite, parasitic, podagrion, sting, torymidae, wasp