Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Lasius ant queen victim of Tachinidae

Posted by khaleph on 02-06-2009 14:53
#1

Bonjour,

I'am an ant keeper from Québec city.

From time to time, me and other keeper have queen killed by parasites.

The most interesting is a fly that lays eggs in the abdomen of the queen.

The queen remains alive for several months before the pupa appears. I never observed it to leave the abdomen.

Here are some picture of that situation.

membre.oricom.ca/melkor/fourmis/parasite_lasius.jpg

membre.oricom.ca/melkor/fourmis/parasite_lasius6.jpg

membre.oricom.ca/melkor/fourmis/parasite_lasius8.jpg

membre.oricom.ca/melkor/fourmis/parasite_lasius9.jpg

membre.oricom.ca/melkor/fourmis/parasite_lasius10.jpg

membre.oricom.ca/melkor/fourmis/parasite_lasius12.jpg

membre.oricom.ca/melkor/fourmis/parasite_lasius13.jpg

membre.oricom.ca/melkor/fourmis/parasite_lasius15.jpg

Edited by ChrisR on 02-06-2009 15:51