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Parasitic Wasps of Mantid Egg clusters

Egg clusters like these can be found all over Mequite trees in parts of Southern Arizona.  Since I was collecting in mid-summer, most of the oothecae (egg clusters) I found were recently hatched from spring.  In the desert, though, you can find mantid oothecae from years past, as things are dried and preserved for long periods of time.  This was the only oothecae of this species, that I found, which was unhatched.  I took it home with me, and set it up in the incubator.  Three days later, I was very excited to catch a glimpse of about 2 dozen hatchlings.  But, looking more closely, I realized that these were not mantids!!!  I was quite upset to see that these were small, apparently parasitic wasps that had apparently commandeered this ootheca.  At some time, while it was incubating on the tree, a female ichnumen-like wasp had layed her eggs in the cells of this ootheca.  Looking carefully, I noticed both male and female wasps, the difference being the obviously-long ovipositor (egg-laying organ) of the female individuals.  Wanting to salvage the situation, as best as possible, and grabbed the camera and tried to get a few pics. of these 3mm cradle-bandits!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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