Thirsty Parasite, Pt. 6 - _TNY_5925

My son has taken up an interest in assisting me in my photographic endeavours. We found this Gasteruption parasitoid wasp inside the glass in his grandmother's greenhouse and took it outside. It was obviously a bit tired from being stuck there so when Daniel offered it a wet finger it drank eagerly - and I took some shots.

 

I had the MP-E65mm on the camera at the moment so one of those shots with the bug in front of his out-of-focus face wouldn't work, but he coaxed me into making a run for it and fetch the more normal macro lens while he kept the wasp entertained.

 

This shot is taken before the lens-change, but he managed to keep the wasp on his finger while I switched gear (and also got the in-front-of-him shot he wanted). For part 1 go here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/50256033487/

for part 2, go here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/50674565838/

part 3, go here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/51138218028/

part 4 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/51345031842/

and part 5 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53385031807/

 

It is either a G. jaculator or G. caucasicum, but they only differ in one species having a couple of indentations in the neck and my shots don't offer conclusive evidence which of them it is.

 

This species parasitizes on solitary bees nesting in cavities in wood where it sticks that ridiculously long ovipositor down the cavity.

 

Portrait shot here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/50309769442/

 

The shot with it in front of Daniel here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/50556464842/

 

Another one on a finger: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/51863789320/

 

And finally on a flower showing just how ridiculously long that ovipositor is compared to the body: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/51872204489/

Done