Raising a parasitic wasp
On the morning of 31st January 2022 I visited Lofthouse Colliery Nature Park in Wakefield and ventured deep into the woods, far from the beaten track. I stumbled upon a mysterious, sealed blue barrel and decided to open it. Inside was some rope, a cloth and a Clubiona spider.
I don't usually keep the spiders I find but this had a parasitic wasp larva attached and whenever I post pics of these people ask if I reared the wasp. Well, this time I did...
31/01/2022 - Clubiona spider carrying small parasitic wasp larva
09/02/2022 - The larva has continued to grow much larger on the spider, whilst keeping it alive.
09/02/2022 - The spider is still moving freely but starting to slow considerably.
10/02/2022 - The larva detaches from the now dead spider. The spider had spun a silk 'sac' web, which the larva continues to use for cover.
10/02/2022 - The larva spends the day feeding on the spider, sucking juices from the body and legs.
17/02/2022 - The larva has spun a silk cocoon, within the main 'sac' web and is starting the transformation to a wasp.
25/02/2022 - The wasp is now almost fully developed and can be seen moving, preparing to emerge.
26/02/2022 - A fully developed parasitic wasp emerges.
The wasp is Schizopyga species (likely S. frigida)
