Peacock egg parasites
Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 5:59 pm
Matt R and I watched a female peacock laying eggs today. No sooner had she laid them, than they were attended by some small dark flies/hymenopterids:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2010/ioeggs102.jpg)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2010/ioeggs103.jpg)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2010/ioeggs105.jpg)
Are these parasites? Is the one on the right in the middle picture laying eggs in eggs, or just having difficulty walking over them?
Guy
PS - between the first and last pictures came this:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2010/antiopa104.jpg)
She looks as if she might be up for a little egg-laying too...
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2010/ioeggs102.jpg)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2010/ioeggs103.jpg)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2010/ioeggs105.jpg)
Are these parasites? Is the one on the right in the middle picture laying eggs in eggs, or just having difficulty walking over them?
Guy
PS - between the first and last pictures came this:
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2010/antiopa104.jpg)
She looks as if she might be up for a little egg-laying too...