Cocoons of Cotesia species with the remains of a dead parasitized caterpillarLarvae of Cotesia glomerata emerging from a caterpillar of a Pieris brassicae butterfly
The adults of Cotesia glomerata can reach a length of 3–7 millimetres (0.12–0.28 in). This small braconid wasp is black, with two pairs of wings. It can parasitize a wide range of Pieris butterfly species as host, but the large white (Pieris brassicae) and small white (Pieris rapae) are the main hosts. The adults feed on nectar. [2]
Life cycle
After hatching from the pupae, females mate almost immediately and begin laying eggs.[3] The eggs are laid in the larvae of butterflies known as caterpillars, where the C. glomerata larvae develop; multiple eggs numbering between 16–52 are deposited in each caterpillar.[4] After 15 to 20 days the larvae emerge, usually killing the parasitised caterpillar. These newly emerged larvae spin cocoons in a cluster on or nearby the host caterpillar; after 7 to 10 days the imago adult wasps hatch from these cocoons. Males typically emerge before females and disperse from the area.[5] Overall, it takes between 22 and 30 days for an egg to develop to full adulthood. [3]
^Laing, J.E.; Levin, D.B. (1982). "A review of the biology and a bibliography of Apanteles glomeratus (L.) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)". Biocontrol News and Information. 3 (1): 7–23. ISSN0143-1404.
^Gu, Hainan; Dorn, Silvia (August 2003). "Mating system and sex allocation in the gregarious parasitoid Cotesia glomerata". Animal Behaviour. 66 (2): 259–264. doi:10.1006/anbe.2003.2185. S2CID54336979.
