Parasitic wasp on end-of-the-year aphids

[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.

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

[mowse]

A Braconid wasp, Cotesia glomerata i think.

http://www.drmcbug.com/parasitic.htm
http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Braconid

[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

[S. Alden]

Congrats on the Administator's Monthly Selection. This is a grand image and deserving of the award.

[rjlittlefield]

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

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.

[Ken Ramos]

Congratulations on your being selected Rik, well deserved and a great set of images. Very nice work!

[gunn]

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