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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » "Parasitica" - Parasitoid Wasps » Braconid and Ichneumonid Wasps (Ichneumonoidea) » Ichneumonid Wasps (Ichneumonidae) » Hover Fly Parasitoid Wasps (Diplazontinae) » Diplazon » Common Hover Fly Parasitoid Wasp (Diplazon laetatorius)
Photo#165786
Braconid or Ichneumon? - Diplazon laetatorius
Copyright © 2008 Brighid Gale

Braconid or Ichneumon? - Diplazon laetatorius
Spring Valley, San Diego County, California, USA
January 13, 2008
Size: approx 13mm
Host plant is Sow Thistle---Sonchus oleraceus

Images of this individual: tag all
Braconid or Ichneumon? - Diplazon laetatorius Braconid or Ichneumon? - Diplazon laetatorius Braconid or Ichneumon? - Diplazon laetatorius Braconid or Ichneumon? - Diplazon laetatorius
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Contributed by Brighid Gale on 18 January, 2008 - 6:42am
Last updated 28 September, 2009 - 10:59am

Moved
Moved from Ichneumon Wasps. If it is ovipositing then it would be a female.
… Ted Kropiewnicki, 28 September, 2009 - 10:59am login or register to post comments

Ovipositing?
It looks like it is ovipositing.
What kind of plant is it?
… Beatriz Moisset, 19 January, 2008 - 12:34pm login or register to post comments

 
Host plant is Sow Thistle---Sonchus oleraceus
zzz
… Brighid Gale, 19 January, 2008 - 2:45pm login or register to post comments

 
Aphids!
Only now I noticed the aphids. Do you have a close up of them? I assume that this is a parasitic wasp and her babies would feed on whoever eats the plant. But I have no idea whether this one would eat aphids or something else. The plot thickens!
I wish I knew more.
… Beatriz Moisset, 19 January, 2008 - 4:17pm login or register to post comments

 
Aha!
So it doesn't feed on the aphids but on the Syrphid flies that feed on the aphids. Interesting!
… Beatriz Moisset, 28 September, 2009 - 11:27am login or register to post comments

 
Parasite
I don't believe that they eat them, these wasps are parasites of Syrphid Fly larvae - see Domingo's remarks at bottom of this image. Also, I have observed a wasp in this subfamily grabbing some honeydew from Aphids - see this image.
… Ted Kropiewnicki, 28 September, 2009 - 1:15pm login or register to post comments

 
Exactly
Parasitoids eat their hosts; that is what I was referring to. I have a post about it
… Beatriz Moisset, 28 September, 2009 - 3:37pm login or register to post comments

 
Yes
We are saying the same thing but my comment was poorly worded. I was trying to clarify that the adult wasp does not eat the syrphid fly larva; I understand that the wasp's egg will hatch and will eat the contents of the cocoon of the syrphid fly. Although I replied to your comment, my clarification was meant for novice contributors - I know that you know. :)
… Ted Kropiewnicki, 28 September, 2009 - 5:56pm login or register to post comments

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