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? Eadya paropsidis (brachonid wasp) Paropsis atomaria (larvae)
A small (7mm) wasp with an orange head, thorax and first pair of legs. the rest of the wasp was black. The larvae being parasitised were those of the eucalyptus leaf beetle (Paropsis atomaria), probably the 2nd instar.
Eucalyptus tree - unknown species
The small wasp was seen flying around the branches where several leaves had the leaf beetle larvae. It landed on a little bunch and I noticed the abdomen curving down towards the larvae. The was was so intent on its act that my manipulating the leaf for a photo did not bother it. The wasp left walking up the leaf and branch after attacking the larvae. Pic #3 shows the larvae dispersing after being visited by the wasp. This was both fascinating and sad. On the tree were several bunches of eggs and several paropsid beetles probably oblivious to what was happening to the larvae !
Spotted on Nov 15, 2012
Submitted on Nov 16, 2012
1 Comment
Wow she really was focussed !! Your handling didn't bother her.