Wasp Exploring My Cactus Plants

mostly.nature (59) in nature • 7 years ago (edited)

I noticed this wasp roaming about my cacti exploring all the nooks and crannies. The wasp is the Cream-spotted Ichneumon, Echthromorpha intricatoria. These are good to have in the garden as they are parasitoids of the Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies). They lay their eggs in the pupae of these insects. This one appeared to be ovipositing (egg laying) despite the absence of any pupae. Until I find out otherwise, I will have to assume it was simply using it's ovipositor to feel about, in search of potential hosts.

Click on images to see a larger version
_{( All photos, videos, and text on this blog are by @mostly.nature)}

Insects Hymenoptera Echthromorpha intricatoria BY Tas 2018-04-09. n2.jpg

If you enjoyed this post, please consider upvoting, commenting , following or resteeming. Thank you!

nature gardening photography teamaustralia macrophotography

7 years ago by mostly.nature (59)

$2.90

Authors get paid when people like you upvote their post.
If you enjoyed what you read here, create your account today and start earning FREE STEEM!

Sort Order:

Trending

[-]

photocontests4 (47) · 7 years ago

World of Photography
>Visit the website<

You have earned 5.10 XP for sharing your photo!

Daily Stats
Daily photos: 1/2
Daily comments: 0/5
Multiplier: 1.02
_{Server time: 09:04:00}

Account Level: 2
Total XP: 359.05/400.00
Total Photos: 48
Total comments: 43
Total contest wins: 1

And have also received a 0.42 percent upvote.

Follow: @photocontests
Join the Discord channel: click!
Play and win SBD: @fairlotto
Daily Steem Statistics: @dailysteemreport
Learn how to program Steem-Python applications: @steempytutorials
Developed and sponsored by: @juliank

$0.00

[-]

aburashed (53) · 7 years ago

It really nice.

$0.00

[-]

mostly.nature (59) · 7 years ago

Glad you liked it.

$0.00

[-]

grace44 (55) · 7 years ago

the 2nd photo is stunning!

$0.00

[-]

mostly.nature (59) · 7 years ago

Thanks for visiting. Glad you liked the photo.

$0.00

[-]

ocrdu (71) · 7 years ago

These are good to have in the garden as they are parasitoids of the Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies)

What? You infidel! 8-)

$0.00

[-]

mostly.nature (59) · 7 years ago

Ha ha! Well I have two minds about that. I love most butterflies and moths but we get plague proportions of diamond-back moths and Cabbage white butterflies, both of which attack my broccoli and cabbages. Perhaps I could train the wasps to be more selective :-)