At the dining area of the resort in Sedili, a number of these half-inch long cuckoo wasps were busy resting on the pillars, their emerald sparkle and outsized eyes apparent even in the daze of the midday shade. Also known as jewel wasps, these flying gems are specialised kleptoparasites of other hymenopterans. The 3,000 or so members of the family Chrysididae lay their eggs in the nests of other wasps or bees. When they hatch, the grubs gobble up the food store of paralysed arachnids, flies or caterpillars and for good measure the host larva as well. A shiny cuticle protects the adults from the stings of far larger wasps that easily overpower spiders and other arthropods, making this little thief both pretty and a pretty tough customer.
Wow! Wonderful close-up! And thanks for the crispy account of the jewel wasp. : )
Posted by: Joseph Lai | 20 November 2008 at 10:19 PM