Cruel Nature

[bones615]

Found this today, the ladybird is alive but seems to be trapped.



After a bit of research i found out that a parasitic wasp had layed an egg in the ladybird, which had eaten non vital internals finishing with whatever moves its legs then crawled out and made a cocoon underneath. Its now using the live ladybird as protection.

[anglefire]

How gruesome.

And they say humans are bad!

[Beryl]

Yes it is.
One Wasp. I don't like .
I have a photo of one of these wasps . It had stunned a spider ans dragging it o it'd den where it will lay it's eggs in the spiders abdomen and the lava eat the spider alive.

[Oldboy]

Is it called Rhyssa persuasoria and looks like the one below?



If it is then it's very rare and only two pictures of it have been taken in the wild, I took this one. 

[Beryl]

I can't find my photo it was dragging this spider three times it's size across the  footpath.
I'll have another look through my 500 discs

P.S
Found it.  I think it's a different member of the species to yours Olboy . Maybe not quite so rare
 
Anoplius viaticus

[Oldboy]

No, doesn't look like Rhyssa persuasoria, which hunts beatles and lays their egg inside. I took six shots but it moves so fast only one was in focus. 

I didn't know what it was, but an article appeared in the Mirror, which showed a picture taken by a chap in Sutton Park, and a expert said it was the only know picture taken in the wild. My shot was taken a week or so before that one. 

[bones615]

You guys seem to know your stuff with all the latin names & insect knowledge. So I googled the wasp that layed in the ladybird, its Dinocampus coccinellae it apparently only uses 7 spot ladybirds as hosts which is a cause for concern if you are hoping ladybirds will keep the aphids down, there is a study running in scotland that suggests 70% of 7 spot ladybirds are infected.

[Beryl]

Yes.
The Wasp I have added is a Spider Wasp it does the same thing but only with Spiders  Lays it's eggs in the stunned spider and the lava eat the spider alive . Poor thing

As you say Cruel Nature

[CML-1591]

ARHHH WHERE'S LORDV WHEN YOU NEED HIM!!

oh right yeah... In the garden or reversing tubes and lenses.....