Parasitic wasp on end-of-the-year aphids

Every 30 days the site administrators will pick a favorite macro or close-up image from the "Macro and Close-up Photography Gallery" to be featured on the front page of the www.photomacrography.com website.

Moderators: MacroMike, nzmacro, Ken Ramos, twebster, S. Alden

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

Post 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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mowse
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Post by mowse »


rjlittlefield
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Joined: Fri May 06, 2005 11:57 pm
Location: Richland, WA, USA
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Post by rjlittlefield »

Braconid seems right, but Cotesia glomerata seems a bit of a long shot. Both http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/mbcn/kyf303.html and http://www.dpw.wageningen-ur.nl/ento/en ... 20Smid.htm list that one as attacking Pierid butterflies like the cabbage whites.

More likely something like Aphidius, as at http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/mbcn/kyf502.html and http://www.ipmofalaska.com/files/aphidius.html.

(Interesting that those last two sites have the same picture, but at vastly different quality!)

--Rik

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S. Alden
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Post by S. Alden »

Congrats on the Administator's Monthly Selection. This is a grand image and deserving of the award. =D>
Sue Alden
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Repost of my images are welcome

rjlittlefield
Posts: 727
Joined: Fri May 06, 2005 11:57 pm
Location: Richland, WA, USA
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Wow -- I got selected for Administrators' Appreciation !

Post by rjlittlefield »

Wow -- I got selected for Administrator's Appreciation! Thanks :!: :D

For viewers' info, the wasp picture was part 2 of a series. Part 1 was here: http://www.photomacrography1.net/forum/ ... php?t=3643 .

--Rik

Edit: to fix link.
Last edited by rjlittlefield on Sun Jun 21, 2009 6:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Ken Ramos
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Post by Ken Ramos »

Congratulations on your being selected Rik, well deserved and a great set of images. Very nice work! =D> =D>
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Kenneth Ramos
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Kens Microscopy
Reposts of my images within the galleries are welcome, as are constructive critical critiques.

gunn
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Post by gunn »

congrats rik. admin has exercised its discretion with much propriety.

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