Edited: The Life of a Lepidopteran: Risk at any Stage

Butterflies and moths do not lead carefree lives. The life of a Lepidopteran is a life of risk. From egg to larva, from larva to pupa, from pupa to adult--no stage is without danger. Each phase of metamorphosis has its own set of unique enemy organisms. I will name just a few of the parasitoids to expect at each stage. This is by no means an exhaustive list. Nor does this brief entry do justice to the intricate dance of life stages between each parasitoid and its chosen host.

Lepidoptera Egg
• Scelionidae wasps
• Chalcidoidea the wasp lays its own egg inside the host egg and its larva eats the host larva. The host eggshell serves as a pupal case for this parasitoid wasp which eventually emerges from the egg as a full-grown adult.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/42465072

Lepidoptera Larva
• Tachinid flies either lay eggs in or on the caterpillar.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/57509878
• Microgastrinae wasps like Cotesia lay eggs inside the caterpillar. Eventually, the wasp larvae emerge and spin papery cocoons either on or near the unfortunate caterpillar.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4139426

Lepidoptera Pupa
• Tachinid flies,
• Chalcidoidea wasps such as Ptermalidae wasps insert eggs into the host pupa. The Ptermalidae young burst out of the pupa as fully grown adults.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/45315270

Lepidoptera Adult
• Insect destroyer fungus
• Parasitic mites most likely Trombidium
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56933237

Know the life stage to better understand the life risk.

Posted on August 25, 2020 06:31 PM by botanicaltreasures