Search

Painted Jezebel pupa parasitised by a wasp

on 7th April 2016

A parasitic wasp eating its way out of the pupa of the Painted Jezebel (Delias hyparete metarete) was documented by Janice Ang at the Seletar Country Club Butterfly Garden (above).

PaintedJezebel-parasitised [JaniceAng]

The images, from top to bottom, similarly give the stages of the wasp forcing its way out of the dead pupa.

PaintedJezebel-parasitised [JaniceAng]

According to Dr Leong Tzi Ming, this is a Chalcidid Wasp belonging to the family Chalcididae. The wasp is black with yellowish markings and stout hind legs. It parasitises mostly caterpillars of butterflies and moths, as well as those of flies and beetles.

PaintedJezebel-parasitised [JaniceAng]

The wasp lays its eggs inside the body of the caterpillar, in this case the Painted Jezebel. Here, only one egg develops to become a larva.

PaintedJezebel pupa-wasp [JanicaAng]

The wasp larva then feeds on the flesh of the host and at the right time forms a pupa. When the wasp emerges from its pupa it forces its way out of the body of the host, by which time the host is already dead.

PaintedJezebel pupa-wasp [JanicaAng]

Janice Ang & Foo Jit Leang, with Dr Leong Tzi Ming
Seletar Country Club Butterfly Garden
Singapore
19th March 2016

(Dr Leong Tzi Ming helped in the ID of the wasp)

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories
Archives

Overall visits (since 2005)

Live visitors
792
5382
Visitors Today
51617337
Total
Visitors

Clustrmaps (since 2016)