Hyperparasitism: a Pteromalid wasp attacks the cocoons of a Braconid wasp which is a parasite on a catalpa sphinx moth.

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Chalcid wasp in the Pteromalidae family on cocoons of parasitic wasps attached to a catalpa sphinx moth caterpillar. The cocoons likely belong to Cotesia sp, a Braconid wasp, and this Pteromalid wasp is likely a hiperparasite of Cotesia. Cotesia parasitizes the caterpillar. Then the hiperparasite attacks the larvae of Cotesia and the adults of the hiperparasite emerge from the cocoons instead of Cotesia.

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Size: 6048px × 3996px
Location: Virginia, USA
Photo credit: © B. Mete Uz / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: catalpa, catalpae, ceratomia, chalcid, cocoon, cotesia, hiperparasite, hiperparasitism, hyperparasite, hyperparasitism, insect, moth, parasite, parasitic, parasitism, sphinx, sphynx, wasp