This beautiful stingless wasp was found at the Earl Rowe campground in Alliston, Ontario. It was at least 1 1/2 inches in length (that includes the tail) if not more. I have never encountered one of these before, so was quite thrilled to capture it!
The male pelecinid wasp is quite rare. What's interesting about this wasp is that the females are able to reproduce without the help of the male. This type of reproduction is called parthenogenisis, which means "virgin birth" . This simply means that the female can lay eggs that don't require fertilization. These unfertilized eggs hatch more females, which explains why this species is predominantly female. For more info on this process, check out this site: http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio210/s2012/brummond_jord/reproduction.htm
Friday, September 6, 2013
American Pelecinid Female
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Wow, that's an awesome photo. Is it any relation of the "stump stabber?"
ReplyDeleteCaleb