Nature - Wild Life - Insect Life - is a parasitic wasp from the subfamily Ichneumoninae. The adult parasitic wasps usually fly from March to August. They are often found on the flowers of meadow hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), where they absorb plant nectar. After mating in summer, the males die, while the fertilized females gather in groups of up to 100 animals to overwinter in frost-free caves and tunnels , seek out rock crevices and tree hollows. The females leave their winter roosts in spring and lay their eggs in butterfly caterpillars.
The hosts include the following species:
Agrotis ipsilon - Ypsilon owl
Erannis defoliaria - large frost moth
Eupithecia satyrata
Graphiphora augur
Mamestra brassicae - coal owl
Noctua comes - Broad-winged banded owl
Noctua pronuba - house mother
Operophtera brumata - small frost moth
Scotopteryx chenopodiata - brown-banded wavy-strap peeper
Tortrix viridana - oak moth
Yponomeuta padella - plum web moth
One egg is laid per butterfly caterpillar. The larvae of the four-spotted parasitic wasp only hatch after the caterpillar has pupated and eat its host in the cocoon. The parasite leaves the butterfly pupa as an adult parasitic wasp.
The four-spotted cave parasitic wasp is widespread in the western Palearctic (large parts of Europe, North Africa) and in the Middle East. The species also occurs in the British Isles and southern Scandinavia. In Germany, the species is known from all cave areas. The insects are often found on the edges of forests, clearings and hedges. Female antennae are black, except for a white band not halfway down their length. Here I presented a picture to see and identify the female, those 4 white - yellow spots on the back abdomen. The male has completely black antennae and 2 white - yellow stripes on the back upper abdomen.
6 апр 2024
