horns of wilmington's cow

By anth

Sawfly

Still enjoying the Nettle Safari? Well too bad, I am! And some gruesomeness today....
First up a stunning green Rhogogaster Sawfly munching on what I think is an ex-Parasitoid Wasp.
Then there's the more advanced stage of Entomophthora muscae in a Yellow Dung Fly (in the extras). Long dead, the fungus has effectively turned the fly into a zombie, making it climb to a high point of grass from where the fungus can spread more effectively, splitting open the abdomen.
A Metallic Flea Beetle,I really liked as well :)
All this coming from less than 10 sq metres of nettles. It's own wee ecosystem that is giving me something new every time...

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