LISTRODOMUS NYCTHEMERUS.
Sadly not one of the good guys.
Holly Blue butterfly is a boom and bust species.
In spring I had quite a few visit my jungle and apparantly laid eggs. I found 3 on Holly and 1 on Alder Buckthorn. I think I posted the eggs some time ago.
Despite bringing the tiny caterpillars inside as soon as I found them, I was too slow for the Holly laid larvae.
LN lays her eggs in first instar HB caterpillars which appear to develop normally - until eclosion and you get this wasp instead of a butterfly.
It's a normal life cycle. Numbers of LN will build up until there are not enough HB to support it. HB numbers will rise, LN will fall.
And just because my caterpillars have been unlucky, it doesn't mean ALL Holly Blue larvae have.
It's been a very interesting few weeks, seeing and photographing new subjects from the 0.6 X 0.3mm egg to this rather beautiful insect. 15 images stacked in camera.
100723OM1100723
Doggie mummy living in ancient York, Yorkshire, England.
Joined 1st Jan 2018
1st Jan 2024 have achieved 196%
28 March 2024 200%
I take photos, am not a photographer.
Interested...
I think I might have had his cousin in the garden. I have quite good numbers of Holly Blues, but spotted a similar wasp. Don't think it had any yellow on it, but same shape, and black with orange legs.
I have just finished a very interesting and fascinating bug book.
The Hidden World by George McGavin.
@markp there are quite a few pararastic wasps, this one fits into a 9mm pupa. It’s only about 1cm long. I’ll check the size when the last pupa clears, it looks like another LN. Better luck next year - hopefully now HB know where my baby food plants are!
I’ll investigate that book too, thanks for the tip.
A spoiler from that book, did you know there is a parasitic wasp, that lays its eggs in the lava of other parasitic wasps, as they emerge from the host caterpillars ?
Strange old world.
@stownsend It's about 8-9mm long, has no interest in humans, doesn't sting and I doubt you'd even notice it fly past. Not a good idea if you are a tiny baby Holly Blue caterpillar though. Thanks for the positive comment
@markp Big fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite them. Little fleas have lesser fleas - and so ad infinitum. I remember learning that at school so very long ago...
There are a few parasitoids of parasites, I believe. Who needs an African safari for wild life adventures???
July 11th, 2023
Leave a Comment
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
I have just finished a very interesting and fascinating bug book.
The Hidden World by George McGavin.
I’ll investigate that book too, thanks for the tip.
Strange old world.
Ian
There are a few parasitoids of parasites, I believe. Who needs an African safari for wild life adventures???