Filming VarWild: Gonepteryx cleopatra

Life cycle of butterflies in Provence


Parasitoids

Ichneumonidae : Gonepteryx cleopatra parasitized by H. rhodocerae

The parasitoid Hyposoter rhodocerae (Rondani, 1877) is a specialis that only parasitize the caterpillars of the genus Gonepteryx (G. cleopatra & G. rhamni). Only one egg is laid inside the body of the caterpillar. Before hatching the parasitoid larva mummifies the body of its host and will become a pupa inside.
The big question is; how does Hyposoter rhodocerae overwinters, because Gonepteryx cleopatra overwinters as a butterfly?

Remarks and identification by Dr. Mark R. Shaw


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