Parasitic Wasp-Pteromalus puparum

This year most of the pupae (about 90%), I found in nature were parasitized by Pteromalus Puparum. Pteromalus puparum is a small (about 3mm long) parasitic wasp in the order Hymenoptera, superfamily Chalcidoidea, family Pteromalidae, that develops inside butterfly pupae. The wasp deposit eggs inside the skin of the pre-pupa caterpillar or puparial wall of the newly formed pupa. The eggs hatch into larvae, which consume the inside organs of pupa and on maturity turn into pupae. The mature wasps emerges from host pupa through a tiny hole. Pteromalus puparum is consederd biological control of caterpillar pests particularly cabbage white butterfly and that is why it's known as "Cabbage White Butterfly Pupal Parasite". According to my personal observations the pupae parasitized by Pteromalus puparum wasp, were include pupae of  plain tiger, cabbage white, bath white, citrus swallowtail and ladybug.

Parasitic Wasp-Pteromalus Puparum
Parasitic Wasp-Pteromalus Puparum
Parasitic Wasp-Pteromalus Puparum
Parasitic Wasp-Pteromalus Puparum
Parasitic Wasp-Pteromalus Puparum
Parasitic Wasp-Pteromalus Puparum
Parasitic Wasp-Pteromalus Puparum on Caterpillar
Parasitic Wasp-Pteromalus Puparum
Parasitic Wasp-Pteromalus Puparum
Parasitic Wasp-Pteromalus Puparum
Pteromalus Puparum Larvae
Parasitic Wasp-Pteromalus Puparum
Pteromalus Puparum Larvae
Parasitic Wasp-Pteromalus Puparum
Pteromalus Puparum Pupae
Parasitic Wasp-Pteromalus Puparum
Pteromalus Puparum Pupae

12 comments:

Friend of HK said...

Wow, what a detailed observation!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

An excellent series Birdy. There are mant wasps which do this. I wonder why they are too lazy to bring up their offspring?

myonlyphoto said...

Oh wow that is one interesting insect, and that small. Thanks for sharing, you always have great stuff here to learn, and never mind the photos, they are nice and crisp. Well done. Anna :)

Philip said...

Fantastic close up shots Birdy :))and a very interesting post !!

Sharodindu said...

a detailed photo-log :)
nice one... I am also trying to get some good insects but my cam can not capture the details like urs ...
nice shot :)

thanks and happy belated Eid!

Daanish said...

Awesome pictures :)

Bill said...

This is an excellent post. As an ecologist I was fascinated by actually seeing the parasitic wasp and larvae in action. What a great survival tool for this wasp, but not so good for caterpillar larvae!
Thanks!

Elettra said...

extraordinary photos

Tampa Real Estate said...

Amazing photos nice shots man...really it needs a great sense of photography.Honestly i have not photos this much clear.

Portobella Rain said...

Nice close ups, not good for the faint hearted though eh?

Birdy Official said...

Thanks you all for the visit and feedback. I always love to here from you.

Aniruddha Dhamorikar said...

A very interesting article coupled with fantastic pictures, thanks a lot for the information!

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