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Photo#578631
Spiny Oak-Slug

Spiny Oak-Slug
Groton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA
September 19, 2011
Feeding on witch hazel.

Images of this individual: tag all
Spiny Oak-Slug parasite eggs on Spiny Oak-Slug Spiny Oak-Slug Spiny Oak-Slug parasite pupa

Moved
Moved from Tachinidae.

Moved
Moved from Euplectrus.

Moved
Moved from Spiny Oak-Slug Moth.
Thanks Ross. I kept the caterpillar and hope to take the progression shots.

 
Excellent…
I would be interested to see what emerges because there is always a possibility that an ichneumon or braconid may appear rather than a chalcid. Also, it is rare to actually image Euplectrus eggs before the larvae actually appear, so that's a nice find.

If Eulplectrus, the eggs may or may not turn black after about 1 day, then hatch out 24 hours later. The larval stage will last about 3-4 days, and the pupal stage another 6 days or so before the adult finally emerges.

 
That all happens quickly
Thanks for the info with the time periods. I'll keep a watch on them.

Eggs…
The eggs are consistent in shape, color, and size with Euplectrus, a eulophid wasp that commonly attacks caterpillars by attaching eggs externally. Tom, will you have the chance to photograph the progession when the larvae appear?

See reference here.

 
Could a chalcid really produce eggs that big?
They sure look like tachinid eggs to me.

 
Eggs
They look like tachinid eggs to me too.

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