- The euphorine
wasp, Dinocampus coccinellae, is
found throughout the world. It arrived in New
Zealand during
the early days of European settlement.
- This wasp lays an egg in the body of an adult ladybird.
- When the egg hatches, the larva grows through 4 instars
while feeding on the living ladybird.
- The mature larva then severs the main nerves of the
ladybird's legs, and burrows its way out of
the ladybird.
- Next the mature larva ties the ladybird's legs together
and pupates underneath.
- The pupating wasp enjoys the protection provided
by the ladybird's bright warning coloration as
well as the deterrent properties of "reflex bleeding";
a mechanism ladybirds use to produce toxic and
foul-tasting fluids from their joints to repel would-be predators.
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