A parasitoid has emerged from one of my Cowberry mines. The exit hole is clearly visible in the cocoon of Ectoedemia weaveri.I am unsure if this is a chalcidoid or a braconid so have emailed the photo to Mark Shaw and Dick Askew for advice.
Watch this space!
Oh well,at least you got something to emerge, they're a very fickle group to rear through, always finding new ways to die.Still,you've proved they do breed in the area which is something!
ReplyDeleteApparantly, the parasitoid is an Adelius sp (Braconidae: Adeliinae...specialist parasitoids of Nepticulids).
ReplyDeleteIt is a very unrevised group – probably a great many more or less specialised species, but only a few names in use and perhaps none of them reliably.
It has gone off to Mark Shaw for a closer look