Naughty, Nice or Neutral?
(Page 2 of 2)
The parasitism occurs in a variety of forms. Some adult
braconids will lay eggs in or on the host. The resulting
larva consume the host and then emerge to become adults
elsewhere. (The white bumps on the hornworm in the photo
above look like insect eggs, but they are actually cocoons
from which adult mini-wasps will hatch.) Other braconids,
like the aphid parasites, lay only one egg per aphid nymph,
and the invader completes its cycle and emerges as an
adult. Diversity is a strength of ecosystems, so we
shouldn't be surprised that some beautiful and harmless (to
us!) species, like the larva of swallowtail butterflies and
sphinx moths, also are hosts for braconids.
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he genus Aphidius is of particular interest to
gardeners, especially greenhouse gardeners. These wasp
adults are only about two to three times the size of an
aphid. They lay a single egg in each aphid nymph, which
kills the aphid; then they emerge as an adult. Aphid
colonies often show different colors. Live aphids are
off-white or light green in color, while dark to light
brown bodies are likely the shells of dead aphids from
which parasites have emerged. A hand lens comes in handy
here. The presence of dead aphids means that many of the
live nymphs are likely parasitized as well, but can still
move. The braconid "alien occupation" of the host for these
species can take as little as 7 to 10 days. Females of
different species of wasps can lay from 50 to 400 eggs
each, so their effect can be substantial. Many braconid
species are sold commercially to protect different
greenhouse crops. These beneficial mini-wasps feed on
nectar from flowers. To attract them to your garden, grow
plants with tiny flowers including dill, fennel and
mints.
- John Stuart
Mother Earth News
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