Black and White-striped Ichneumon Wasp

Ichneumonidae is the largest wasp family. The larvae are either parasitic or hyperparasitic (living parasitically upon a parasite). Most moth caterpillars and pupas are targeted host. The female wasp usually locates the food plants of the host then searches with her antennae for a suitable host. The female usually has the long ovipositor which is used to insert eggs into the host body. Some species the ovipositor is longer than the female's body. The length of the ovipositor allows the female to inject her eggs into hidden hosts such as leaf-rolling or stem-boring caterpillars. Some species lay eggs externally and attack the host from outside. The host will usually survive when the larvae is still living. Until the larvae fully grown, the larvae either pupates inside the dead host or form a cocoon outside.