Parasitic wasps
Parasitic Wasp Brachymeria calliphorae. Photo: C. Bento
A number of families of wasp lay their eggs inside the larvae or pupae of flies, and are known as parasitoids. The wasp eggs hatch inside the maggot or fly pupa. The wasp larvae then feeds on the maggot or pupa, eventually killing it. The wasp larvae then pupate inside the maggot or fly pupa and emerge as adult wasps.
Wasps from the family Pteromalidae parasitise a variety of species but prefer the pupae of the predatory blowfly Chrysomya rufifacies. This is probably because this species pupates on the surface of the ground and is more accessible than the pupae of species that bury their pupae in the ground. One pupa is host to an average of 12 wasps.
Brachymeria calliphorae (Family Chalcidae) parasitises maggots rather than pupae, and only one wasp emerges from each maggot.
Only one wasp emerges from pupae parasitised by Hemilexomyia abrupta (Family Diapriidae) but this species appears to lay its eggs only in the pupae of the blowfly Calliphora stygia.
Parasitic Wasp from the family Pteromalidae. Photo: G. Gowing
Wasp parasitising a maggot. Photo: R. Major
Fly pupal case broken open to show wasp larva feeding on the fly pupa. Photo: R. Major
Wasp larva feeding on the fly pupa. Photo: R. Major
Further information
- Green Hairy Maggot Blowfly Chrysomya rufifacies
- Eastern Golden Haired Blowfly Calliphora stygia
- Life cycle of the fly
Copyright © Australian Museum 2003
