Parasite Wasps Attack in Slow Motion

Flight attacks of small parasitoid wasps (no larger than 2.0 mm in size) on ant workers have been filmed by José María Gómez Durán from Madrid. The four species of wasps show amazing adaptations and enormous differences in the tactics they use. Two of the four filmed species are new to science and are described by Dr Kees van Achterberg from NCB Naturalis Leiden.

Original source: Durán JMG, van Achterberg C (2011) Oviposition behaviour of four ant parasitoids (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae, Neoneurini and Ichneumonidae, Hybrizontinae), with the description of three new European species. ZooKeys 125: 59-106. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.125.1754

Here are links to the four movies, which are also embedded below:

- Parasitoid wasp (Hybrizon buccatus) ovipositing in ants (Lasius grandis)
- Parasitoid wasp (Elasmosoma luxemburgense) ovipositing in ants (Formica rufibarbis)
- Parasitoid wasp (Neoneurus vesculus) ovipositing in ants (Formica cunicularia)
- Parasitoid wasp (Kollasmosoma sentum) ovipositing in ants (Cataglyphis ibericus)