Ichneumon Fly

Ichneumon flies are solitary insects, and most are parasitoids—the larvae feeding on or in another insect which finally dies. As with all hymenopterans, ichneumons are closely related to ants and bees. The female finds a host and lays an egg on, near, or inside the host’s body. Upon hatching, the larval ichneumon feeds either externally or internally, killing the host when they themselves are ready to pupate. The large ichneumon fly (Thakessa), with long flexable ovipositor, boring to deposit eggs.

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