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Parasitised ladybird
Posted 08-05-2008 at 04:07 PM by nutmeg
This afternoon I spotted a 7-spot ladybird anchored by a cocoon - probably of the parasitoid Dinocampus coccinellae, a braconid wasp. The larvae of the wasp immobilise the ladybird and emerge to spin a cocoon between its legs. The unfortunate ladybird is still alive but paralysed, and will either starve or die from infection.
Unfortunately, the ladybird was on the shady side of a tree, so not a great photo of it - the cocoon can barely be seen.
Unfortunately, the ladybird was on the shady side of a tree, so not a great photo of it - the cocoon can barely be seen.
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