Cotesia rubecula

Cotesia rubecula is a parasitoid wasp from the large wasp family Braconidae.

Description

Black in adulthood with a body less than 1/4 of an inch long, C. rubecula has long, extending antenna about the same size as its body.

Distribution and habitat

Cotesia rubecula is not common, established in only a few areas of the world. They die down during winter months with a population bubble in late summer related to the growth of its host species.

Lifecycle

Cotesia rubecula reproduces parasitically through the imported cabbage worm caterpillar, generally in the stage of first instars, with the female wasp stinging and laying between 20 and 50 eggs within the host instar. The defense mechanism of the caterpillars are sometimes able to kill the eggs. If they do not, the caterpillar does not die until the larvae of the wasp emerge. The impact on the host population can vary greatly, from a small percentage to up to 75% of the caterpillars in a given habitat.

Behavior and feeding

Cotesia rubecula eats plant juices created by the flowers and leaves of cabbage. A solitary species, it is more aggressive than the related Cotesia glomerata.

References