Case Moth Larvae Parasite Wasp - Sericopimpla sp.

Family ICHNEUMONIDAE

This page contains pictures and information about Case Moth Larvae Parasite Wasps that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.

In early spring we found this Ichneumon Wasp attacking a case moth caterpillar on a Acacia tree. Although the caterpillar was protected by its case bag, it seemed it was useless to prevent the attack from the wasp. We saw the caterpillar head come out a few times try to get rid of the wasp but no use either. The wasp kept on punching her long ovipositor into the case bag for over half an hour.



Sericopimpla sp. sting case moth larvae to death then lay an egg attached to the inside of the bag. The egg hatches in a few days and larva feeds externally.

This ichneumon wasp species could be the S. australis or the S. crenator in subfamily Pimplinae. Please check the Ichneumon Wasps page for general information about this wasp.

Reference and Link:
1. Insects of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University Press, 2nd Edition 1991, pp 944.
2. An introduction to the Ichneumonidae of Australia - Gauld, I.D. 1984, British Museum, p52, p68.
3. Northern Territory Insects, A Comprehensive Guide CD - Graham Brown, 2009.