''Hedychrum rutilans'' is a species of cuckoo wasps belonging to the family Chrysididae. These cuckoo wasps are mainly present in Austria, Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, France, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and in North Africa.
Their head and thorax are metallic green with red red spots, while the abdomen is red colored. The color is more green and partially golden in the male and more extensively golden-red in the female. The whole body is quite hairy.
The adults grow up.. more
Similar species: Wasps, Bees, Sawflies And Ants
By Lifeware
All rights reserved
Uploaded Jul 12, 2011. Captured Jul 12, 2011 21:41.
comments (7)
"The beautiful Golden Cuckoo Wasp (Hedychrum rutilans) has a spectacular, iridescent and metallic appearance with colors that cover the entire visible spectrum of light! They are parasitoids on the larvae of beewolves (Philanthus sp.). Female golden cuckoo wasps enter beewolf nests and lay their eggs on paralyzed honeybees that were placed there by female beewolves as food provisions for their own larvae. When the cuckoo wasp larvae hatch, they feed on the honeybees AND on the larvae of the beewolf! So, not only do they "steal" the food intended for the beewolf larvae, but they also eat the larvae themselves. Pretty devious! You would think that the beewolf females would detect these sneaky, parasitic invaders as they enter their nest. But, the golden cuckoo wasp is able to evade detection by employing chemical camouflage! They accomplish this by synthesizing compounds that mimic the odor of the honeybees! So, they enter the beewolf nests completely undetected and leave no traitorous chemical scent behind. Basically, the golden cuckoo wasps steal and parasitize the beewolf's food source, and they accomplish this feat using chemical mimicry! That's amazing specialization! {Spotted by JungleDragon user, Lifeware} #JungleDragon" Posted 9 months ago