Predatory-caterpillar

Guides

• Chalcoela

  Sooty-winged Chalcoela (for C. iphitalis)

  Chalcoela is a genus of crambid moths (family Crambidae, subfamily Glaphyriinae) containing at least two described species. The genus is notable for the brood parasitic biology of C. iphitalis, whose larvae are specialized predators of paper wasp (Polistes) larvae within their nests. This species represents a rare example of a lepidopteran that has evolved to exploit social hymenopteran colonies. The genus was established by Zeller in 1872.

  brood-parasitepredatory-caterpillarsocial-insect-parasitenocturnal-ovipositionwasp-mimicryPolistespaper-wasp-nest

• Laetilia myersella

  Laetilia myersella is a species of snout moth (family Pyralidae) described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1910. It occurs in eastern North America, with records from Florida, Massachusetts, South Carolina, and West Virginia. The species has a wingspan of 11–17 mm. Its larvae are specialized predators of scale insects on pine trees.

  snout-mothpyralidscale-insect-predatorpine-associatedbiological-controlpredatory-caterpillar