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Flies Burrowing into Chrysalis??
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 12:22 pm
by Ryan
Hi New to this site, so appologies if this has come up before. I'm currently frowning plants, radishes in particular which gained a population of what I think are small whites. One of which went into chrysalis a few weeks ago, I wasn't that bothered about the plants so I've just let them live on it. Anyway today I've come down to find small flies burrowing into the chrysalis, which is extremely upsetting as I was hoping to catch the butterfly hatching. Any info of what these flies are and if there is anything I can to to stop them apparently eating or laying eggs in the chrysalis would be great. Many thanks
Re: Flies Burrowing into Chrysalis??
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2016 9:36 pm
by Trev Sawyer
Hi Ryan,
It is actually very likely that the small flies you are seeing are parasitic wasps and they are probably hatching from the butterfly chrysalis rather than trying to get into it... These small parasitic wasps inject their eggs into the body of growing caterpillars and gradually take them over from inside. The caterpillars continue to eat as normal and eventually turn into a chrysalis, but instead of an adult butterfly developing inside, a clutch of wasps is destined to emerge through the surface. Nature is cruel sometimes, but the body of the caterpillar makes a perfect food source for the wasp larvae, which can grow unmolested by things which might actually parasitise them.
Trev
Re: Flies Burrowing into Chrysalis??
Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2016 4:37 am
by Chris Jackson
Here is an interesting video on the same subject :
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=yo ... &FORM=VIRE
Chris
Re: Flies Burrowing into Chrysalis??
Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2016 12:08 pm
by Ryan
Many thanks for the replies! Yes they do indeed look like tiny wasps. I didn't even know these type of wasps existed. Very sad, would you think it's likely the other caterpillars are also infected?
Re: Flies Burrowing into Chrysalis??
Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2016 12:17 pm
by Ryan
Chris, also that's probably one of the most disturbing nature videos I've seen. Very interesting though.
Re: Flies Burrowing into Chrysalis??
Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2016 1:10 pm
by Chris Jackson