Note that on 7th May I removed all adults from this enclosure. The plan is to monitor these through to maturity. This will give me an estimate of life cycle timing and sex ratios. I expect only around 5 males for every 100 females. The genus has a well documented female bias.

The larvae remain outside the body of the host as they feed. They have relatively small mouthparts and are quite maggot-like in appearance. All they need do for the next week or two is feed and grow. By the time they are ready to pupate they will be 1.6mm in length … roughly the same size as the adult wasp they will become.