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These
wasps are
usually
they are small in size
and Braconid wasps family comprise a
large group of over 1700 North American species. All are parasites of
insects or other arthropods.
Caterpillars are the most frequently targeted by this wasp but they can
also parasitize flies,
sawflies, wood boring beetles, weevils, leafmining insects, true bugs, and
ants. Braconids usually parasitize the immature stages (larvae, pupae, or
nymphs) of their hosts.
The adult females have long
ovipositor and lays eggs
inside of an insect host. The larva feeds on the inside of the host
until it is ready to pupate. The wasp can either pupate inside the host,
or in the cast of the tomato and tobacco hornworm, pupate on the outside
of the host. Those are the white cocoons you see on their backs, pupa
cases for the wasp. The wasps will then emerge and look for more hosts.
The life cycle can range from
10-30 days. |
Pupa cases of Braconid wasps on back of
a tobacco
hornworm larva (Manduca sexta)
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