Methocha articulata larva 2013

The tiny ant like wingless wasp Methocha articulata is a parasitoid of tiger beetle larvae. The female wasp has tough ball bearing like thoracic segments and purposefully falls in to the jaws of the ferocious green tiger beetle Cicindela campestris larva. Then it stings the tiger beetle larva and paralyses it. On this occasion the tiger beetle larva left its burrow. Then there was an incredible show of strength from the Methocha as she dragged the unfortunate tiger beetle larva back to its lair then after laying an egg on its body buried it alive in the burrow. Once hatched the Methocha larva latches on to its host and sucks it dry. These small wasps occur in most sites with large tiger beetle colonies but due to their small size are rarely seen.