Thirsty weather for the wood parasitoid wasp...

These insects have a dark body with spots on the abdomen. The female has an ovipositor at the abdomen that is longer than her body. With that drill, which can make a rotating movement, she drills fine holes in pine wood. Larvae live in the wood of other insects and the wasp can feel where they are, she makes a hole near each larva and lays an egg. The strange larva serves as food for her offspring. Once the eggs hatch, these new larvae continue to overwinter in the wood; they feed on the host larva and only emerge as adults the following spring. The wasp's small head bears long antennae. The long legs have a reddish color....

Thanks, Wendy for hosting the Tiny Tuesday challenge for May.


Thanks for the lovely comments and stars for my yesterday’s blip! Xxx