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Mantid Oothecae Parasite Wasp - Podagrion or Pachytomoides sp.
Family TORYMIDAE, subfamily Monodontomerinae
We found one species in this family, which parasitised on mantid oothecae.
- Body length 3mm
- The first parasite wasp just come out from the mantid oothecae. Its head and thorax were metallic blue in colour, with abdomen from pale brown to dark brown in colour. Its hind legs upper part, or femur, were enlarged and dentate.
We collected a oothecae of the False Garden Mantid during mid summer, which was laid under a leaf near the forest ground. We brought it home and expected to see some young mantids come out. However, a few days later, we saw a small wasp came out instead. The oothecae was parasitised by wasp. We know that mantid oothecae are often heavily parasitised by wasp so we did not have too much surprised.
We had seen the Large Brown Mantid oothecae parasitised by wasp. In that case, there came out only a few wasps and most of the young mantids still survive. This time, we saw the wasps come out one by one from the oothecae within two days. None of the young mantid survive.
