I've been stalking a female ichneumonid laying eggs in larvae inside Knapweed seedheads for a couple of days.
First, she explores the seedheads to find one that is occuped - usually by fly larvae, such as picture-wing flies:
Then she flips the ovipositor out of its sheath (note that the sheath splits along its length):
Then we have the repeated act of positioning the ovipositor and laying the egg:
This process is carried out for a minute or so, then she moves on to explore other flower heads.
I stapled together a few photographs of the process into a video of sorts:
Here's a different species exploring Creeping Thistle:
The fungal season has started, so I'll be making some trips to older woodland very soon. This is what I've always known as Bolbitius vitellinus, but I seem to remember its name changed in the last year or two.
Another new micromoth: Acleris emargana, which is a feeder on Salix sp.
Identification updated 13/9/2011
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4 comments:
What an extraordinary sight that moth is - looks like a sea slug!
the photos of the ichneumonid laying eggs are amazing
Acleris emargana
Thanks for the correction, Anonymous.
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