Larra anathema (Larra anathema)

Larra anathema While photographing sea birds, I spotted this wasp on the shore of an inland salt lake near the Black Sea, the city of Pomorie, on the motionless body of mole cricket. She was apparently laying an egg on the victim's body, but I couldn't shoot her at that moment because she flew a little to the side. After about 40-50 seconds, the mole cricket (Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa), apparently paralyzed by the parasitic wasp, recovered and moved away. Animal,Animalia,Apoidea,Arthropoda,Bulgaria,Crabronidae,Europe,Geotagged,Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa,Hymenoptera,Insect,Insecta,Larra anathema,Parasitic,Pomorie wetland complex,Summer,Wetland,Wildlife

Appearance

"Larra anathema" can reach a length of 16–24 millimetres in the females, of 12–17 millimetres in the males. The body is mainly black, but the first and second tergite of the abdomen are reddish brown. The wings are dark brown or black. Anteriorly the first antennal segment is reddish.

Naming

* "Larra anathema anathema"
⤷ "Larra anathema melanaria" Kohl, 1880

Distribution

This species is widespread in North Africa, in Southern and Central Europe and in Turkey. It has been introduced in Hawaii for biological pest control. These wasps prefer dry habitats.

Behavior

The females hunt European mole crickets stinging and paralyzing them. Larvae feed upon their host.

References:

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Taxonomy
Kingdom	Animalia
Division	Arthropoda
Class	Insecta
Order	Hymenoptera
Family	Crabronidae
Genus	Larra
Species	L. anathema

Photographed in
Bulgaria