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| Like many moth larvae,
Geometrine species frequently fall prey to larval parasites in the form of
Hymenopteran or Dipteran species that specialize on Lepidopteran caterpillars.
The images below show a caterpillar of
Nemoria rubrifrontaria that was collected in an early instar and reared to
pupation in the lab. Rather than the emergence of adult moth, however, the pupa
gave rise to another larva--this time of a Tachinid fly who pupated outside the
moth case. The left photos shows a visible hole in the side of the pupa where
the fly larva emerged. The fly's pupal case and the adult fly are shown in the right photos.
The lower images show a freshly parasitized Chlorochlamys larva
with the newly pupated braconid wasp cocoon on a flower petal to the
left.
Rates of parasitism may be extremely high
in some cases and more study of parasitism rates and specific parasites
associated with Geometrid hosts would be a valuable contribution to our
knowledge of these organisms life history and selection pressures
operating on larval stages. |
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Braconid wasp parasitism of
Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria |
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Twisted body of Chlorochlamys larva above at right
with visible hole at posterior end where wasp larva emerged through
integument.
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Braconid wasp species next to pupa from which it eclosed.
This individual had parasitized a Eupithecia larva in New
Hampshire.
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