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Photo#1073970
Aphids/Scales, Ants, and Parasitic Wasp - Hamamelistes spinosus

Aphids/Scales, Ants, and Parasitic Wasp - Hamamelistes spinosus
Marion, Linn County, Iowa, USA
May 27, 2015
I found what appeared to be aphids or scales with the uninvited ladybugs feasting on them on my river birch, only to be chased away by ants tending the larval insects. I know ants/aphids have a symbiotic relationship, but have only encountered this one other time. What was also intriguing was that there were wasps flying near the aphids/scales. Could these be parasitoids? It amazed me how populated the birch tree was. I found many different types of insects on it.

Pictured is an ant tending the larval insects.

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

Hamamelistes spinosus
This is the alternate generation of the spiny witch hazel gall aphid. The wasps could well have been aphid parasitoids.

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