An unusual occurrence
Jul 15, 2020 13:44:47 #
While at Idewilde WMA.
I was watching a 'Cow Killer' wasp.
It climbed a milkweed and when it found a Monarch caterpillar it would wrap around it and appear to sting or oviposit.
It did this to two. I took one, it is in the act of pupating. The wasp is in my 'zoo'. It eats honey and syrup. Three of many pictures were acceptible, tho none of the 'odd' behavior.
Bill
I was watching a 'Cow Killer' wasp.
It climbed a milkweed and when it found a Monarch caterpillar it would wrap around it and appear to sting or oviposit.
It did this to two. I took one, it is in the act of pupating. The wasp is in my 'zoo'. It eats honey and syrup. Three of many pictures were acceptible, tho none of the 'odd' behavior.
Bill
Jul 15, 2020 14:39:02 #
Jul 15, 2020 14:45:20 #
Fred Harwood wrote:
Perhaps a braconid wasp.
It is Mutillidae. Dasymutilla occidentalis.
It normally parzsitizes ground nestuping bees.
Thank You.
Bill
Jul 16, 2020 07:00:55 #
Yes, very unusual. Please keep an eye on that pupa to see if anything 'unusual' develops and let us know in a few weeks. The ovipositor is so highly modified into a stinger it no longer deposits eggs through the shaft, but just extrudes them at the base; the sting in these is mostly for defense. I think (but am not sure!) they lay eggs on the outside of the prey or even adjacent to the prey egg (usually one to a nest chamber) allowing them to hatch and grow before the Killer larva devours them. If the Monarch larvae were not greatly distressed by the visit, I would doubt that they were actually stung, but don't know - never heard of this with Mutillids.
Jul 17, 2020 07:22:52 #
Nice set Bill. I thought Cow Killers were a Southern species. I guess I was wrong.
Anyway, when were you at Idylwild WMA? I was there for 5 hours on Sunday. 9:00 - 2:30.
Had a few lifer dragons.
-Doc
Anyway, when were you at Idylwild WMA? I was there for 5 hours on Sunday. 9:00 - 2:30.
Had a few lifer dragons.
-Doc
Jul 17, 2020 09:25:50 #
Just thought of something that occasionally has been observed - adult wasps feeding on the blood that oozes out after either a venom-less or an envenomating sting, the first as a feeding strategy in itself, the second as a side result of paralyzing the prey (spiders, in most cases). Just curious - was there any evidence of feeding by the mutillid? Otherwise, I know that Monarch cats rear and twitch violently when approached by parasitoid tachinid flies looking to lay eggs on their skins - seems odd that this didn't happen with the mutillid if it stung them. Always questions! Good observation in any case - thanks for passing it on!
Jul 17, 2020 17:03:19 #
Beautiful shots, Bill! We used to call these red velvet ants, and then I found out that they're not ants at all!
Jul 17, 2020 21:13:01 #
docshark wrote:
Nice set Bill. I thought Cow Killers were a Southern species. I guess I was wrong.
Anyway, when were you at Idylwild WMA? I was there for 5 hours on Sunday. 9:00 - 2:30.
Had a few lifer dragons.
-Doc
Anyway, when were you at Idylwild WMA? I was there for 5 hours on Sunday. 9:00 - 2:30.
Had a few lifer dragons.
-Doc
Only there a short time. Too hot.
These wasps range north to S.Dakota.
One of the widest ranging Mulillids.
Thanks for the interest Doc. See my response to realbugman, more on the subject.
Bodes ill for the Monarch chrysalis.
Bill
Jul 17, 2020 21:27:06 #
relbugman wrote:
Just thought of something that occasionally has be... (show quote)
I did not see if that was the case.
The wasp had wrapped, almost carressingly, the 1.25 inch caterpillar before the apparent sting. The chrysalid doesn't look too well now.
It has darkened and a large shiny " boss" has formed in the last 24 hours. Pictures follow.
I have seen a video taken by a friend of a cicada acting as you stated.
It had dragged a cicada to the handle of a trash can, where it rested.
It chewed an eye on the cicada and drank.
Then glided off with the cicada. End of video.
I had conjectured this for years but not observed it. Still haven't, not in person.
Glad to hear from you.
Bill
Jul 17, 2020 22:41:11 #
You are right - does not look healthy. Keep an eye out, it may not have been parasitized, just stsuck for a drink. The position of the wasp might indicate this as well? Still, a very interesting observation! Bob
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