#Tetrastichus julis

[onenicebugperday]

The cereal leaf beetle (Oulema melanopus) is a type of beetle whose larvae use a fecal shield as a defense against predators and parasitoids, as well as a way to prevent desiccation. The gelatinous pile on top of the larvae in the photos above is the larva’s own feces. In all my research, I couldn’t find what the goo binding the fecal pellets together is!

Cereal leaf beetles are considered an agricultural pest, but are controlled in part by the parasitoid wasp, Tetrastichus julis. Females wasps will lay an egg in the beetle larva. The wasp larva will then hatch and consume the leaf beetle larva from the inside, eventually killing it.

Photos 1-4: Cereal leaf beetle larvae with fecal shields.

Photo 5: Detached fecal shield of another leaf beetle species.

Photos 6-7: Adult cereal leaf beetle.

Photos 8: Parasitoid wasp larva in the fecal shield of a cereal leaf beetle larva. Wasp larva is circled in red. Normally the wasp larva is inside the body of the beetle larva; this one seems to have missed the mark, but may still find its way there.

Photo 9: Adult wasp, Tetrastichus sp.

Photo credit: 1 Judy Gallagher, 2 by annikaml, 3 by efarilis, 4 by gemadon, 5 by Luis Sanches, 6 by kostaszontanos, 7 by monsieur-moustache, 8 by by Gilles San Martin, and 9 by Stephen Ausmus

[insect-mov]

Tetrastichus Julis Parasitoid Wasp Its Eggs Inside Larva of Cereal Leaf Beetle ... ______________________________________ @insect.mov (©) Oleksand Kabanov macro shot insect ______________________________________ #wildlife #wildlifephotography #macromania #wildlifeplanet #top_macro #macro_perfection #parasite #macro_captures #natgeo #natgeowild #macroworld_tr #earthcapture #natgeoyourshot #macro_freaks #insect #insects #insectsofinstagram #insectlovers #insects_macro #macro #macrophoto #wasp #bug #macrophotography #beetle #yourshotmacro https://www.instagram.com/p/CAMD4HngyEV/?igshid=pgcbzqmymhl5

[morbidology]

This is the appearance of a cereal leaf beetle after being parasitised by the tetrastichus julis, which is a parasitoid wasp. The wasp lays it's eggs inside the larvae of the beetle. After the eggs hatch, they feed on the beetle while it is still alive. They then burst out of the beetle and kill it.

[artists-and-monsters]

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Tetrastichus julis, living in your pant, Nowadays.

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Bill Otomo : http://billotomo.blogspot.ca

[insect-mov]

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Tetrastichus Julis Parasitoid Wasp Its Eggs Inside Larva Of Cereal Leaf Beetle ______________________________________ If you are a feature hub feel free to use my footage as long as credit is given and I'm tagged in the photo This is filmed by me @insect.mov (©) Camera #Sony FDR AX100 + unique #lenses (homemade) for #macro #yourshotmacro - Shot at Ukraine. ______________________________________ #nature #naturehub #natgeoyourshots #naturelovers #animals #insect #natures #insects #animal #animalsofinstagram #video #footage #videoshot #macros #macro_perfection #macro #movie #film #sinema #instagood #wildlife #instavideo #wild #wildlifeplanet #exclusive_wildlife #fauna #earthcapture #natgeo #natgeowild https://www.instagram.com/p/BtIdbkZgEBT/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1emozmdr8t73h