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While in France in July, I found a caterpillar of the spotted fritillary which unfortunately had been parasitized by a wasp ... nature can be so gruesome.... Any idea of what kind of wasp could have parasitized it ?
Sylvie

Hi Sylvie. In 2010 I photographed the same thing:



I don't know what the parasitic species is.

Guy

Thanks Guy, that would be interesting to find out, I will try to find some information and will post it if I find out.
Sylvie

Thanks for sharing those photos, Sylvie and Guy.
Very interesting.
Chris

Probably Cotesia hispanica - and the only reason I know this is because I looked it up on the Filming Var Wild web site.

Here is the link, and there is also a YouTube video of M. didyma being parasitised.

http://www.filming-varwild.com/p-braconidae.html

Pieter Kan is one of the leading experts on parasitoids in Europe.

Roger

Hi Roger,

Thank you for this, this is fascinating. The poor caterpillar having to stay alive when all this frenzy happens : larva coming out of the body, imago emerging and males waiting for females to get the chance to mate.....
Thanks
Sylvie

Gruesome indeed! I've only ever seen this type of predation on Large White larvae but yes, it is a cruel way for a caterpillar to end its life.