The first shot shows the Campodorus ovipositing into a pavidus larva that is just on the other side of the leaf, through the hole. I have no idea how she knows where it is. Note the wings held high, presumably to protect them from damage should the sawfly flail around, which they often do.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZs0y_sRZeR26XDnUcZuYS3p0y6FPAEOOtsP2vSiIdaekwREYdH6I7xNLGjKj808jwe8bu7ungqIZocBBgRnUJrMEgQAVZbbfTGdBAauGwSgdUTyvj54f9psN9SBnDdqjKjhm5TeIFw/s280/hole-laying-web.jpg)
In this next instance I watched the whole approach. The Campodorus walked from a higher leaf and arrived on the leaf shown. Within a second she had spun round and tried to lay in the tail of the larva, but its reflex triggered and she was thrown about a centimetre away. Undaunted, she tried a very slow, sneaky, second approach, this time aiming for the front of the larva, which doesn't move during the reflex. The reflex was triggered a second time, but she was untouched and continued to lay.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQ4pA4CKLWWPIVQUjVicUjYly51a2JX8b-F7uCM1Z1CNhNTV5wr2hcRpGFx8x9PrA31kCCCqZLaBLTOeZ6Q87V5eFox9ytvPm4RGH2Tg2dy9pc6fzS7qa30qz2Du0Cd1ZZHSwByl9DA/s280/avoidance-web.jpg)
Incredible - really shows the wings-up position.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant observations Stuart.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Yesterday I watched a Campodorus as she tried to lay. The Nematus larva swung its tail directly at her, knocking her off the leaf.
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