Brown inchworm caterpillar perched on a nearly vertical green leaf petiole against a black background. Three creamy orange parasitic wasp larvae, each approximately the size of the caterpillar's head, are attached to the caterpillar's back.

I've been following the "progress" of this little (<1 cm) #inchworm #caterpillar for a couple of days. It is wearing a trio of #ectoparasitic wasp larvae (in Family #Chalcididae). They're siphoning the caterpillar's blood & bodily fluids. It'll die soon & they will form pupae near the cadaver.

side view of a black wasp, its head and antennae are to the left of picture

A beautiful Haltichella rufipes parasitoid wasp of the Chalcididae found in the garden birch tree yesterday. Always impressed by the impression of strength these impart!

#UKWildlife #wasps #Chalcididae