I've
written about parasitic braconid wasps before, and you know, I probably will again - because they are fascinating. This one hatched recently from the mummified remains of what I think is a small noctuid moth larva that I found in our garden, possibly one of the
Xestia or
Noctua species.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9k0OcAbtlX6uogNOrv2oxXmQgXtl2LXDr8-LHtkeEUHWFQkynWn9ELl1Xc5svCNPotb0hyphenhyphenvneCYde4XP-DN-z0W4_hTuIWycSbbqH8fdO4vo0SP-vGtF9uOn5mFshMG6jQmVb7z2pngL/s1600/aleiodes+sp+near+borealis1g.JPG) |
Mummified remains of an unfortunate moth larva, showing the legs |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1mqm4dZ7_QzR0t__tGtnpVhTmzQHG06maOy-sTBe4XALfn7aKkVAus49CGMIi-zn1zb5QgOw01-ireFSN3aTPQEoE0B13sFgwcJb2yNHJf-91KIBUczZtMacq9fxL5TuDxvU0yDWeFRN/s1600/aleiodes+sp+near+borealis1f.JPG) |
Mummified moth larva showing the wasp's exit hole at the rear. The material sticking the mummy to its substrate can be seen beneath the head. |
As you've gathered, this is an internal parasite (parasitoid) - in this case probably
Aleoides borealis or something taxonomically close to it (written as "
Aleiodes sp. near
borealis"). This kills the host before it is fully grown - it then changes the host behaviour to ensure it adopts a parasite-frindly position, after which the parasitoid makes a slit in the host on the underside near the head. Through this slit, it produces a sticky fluid which glues the host in place. However, I don't only have an empty husk to show you - I collected the mummy before emergence, and this is what appeared in my hatchery.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0VRCCpkbMgZ_dsimeEzCP_oKxhgVPYVUTdY_fEP9rf7HcvqWjTh3ipzz_E8c6N8tuVXYPZba7F-n5_Vggv1TTwheF8eTv1_tvivDPnww5FXBTfljxQr2f68wdibDJ95kWvoFVy6XTLvs/s1600/aleiodes+sp+near+borealis1a.JPG) |
Aleiodes sp. near borealis |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEyXnU4QJAaNfhS4rSCvwzo4r7Ny5DoKBdW85VPrXm0vsiveZdl0_4bgBWt6admVCrd9Rw3PrmxHx3rkxUx3PezGdnelPDVEQ5n8ADCbKBEmtUzgv5bZkCBM7vVafyIfrnw1ZLUaMC0V-/s1600/aleiodes+sp+near+borealis1b.JPG) |
Head (with ocelli) of Aleiodes sp. near borealis |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsxPwuBKMaPj8_CD_tAn9ZfvK2ufhOZFTbobbXgNur8oMI3odDx8WrqYrODor2GzauI0xB_Y7rHF3iCmswcdQGt4BnqUWalRzJceoAkkPn2KvfckIyhqft6Fzf4wGHQMKRlCP0eKzwGz-/s1600/aleiodes+sp+near+borealis1c.JPG) |
Abdominal pattern of Aleiodes sp. near borealis |
Parasitic Hymenoptera are notoriously tricky to identify, but I think this is a reasonable conclusion - as ever, I am happy to hear from anyone who has a better idea what it is!
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