White wings wasp

Description:

I have been watching these wasps tend these treehoppers for a few days now in the park where I take my dog. I decided to take a couple of shots and find out more about these species. "They have been recorded to tend species of treehopper, plant sap-feeding insects, during the daytime, an example of a mutualistic relationship. The wasp protects the treehopper nymphs from predators and parasites and in return feeds on honeydew which is produced by the nymphs. At night the carpenter ant species, Camponotus atriceps will tend the nymphs. During the day, P. apicalis will attack these ants, preventing them from tending the treehoppers. Each wasp is loyal to one group of treehopper nymphs, and will only leave them for less than 10 minutes at a time."