Parasitic Wasp

[Cindi]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23916956@N02/2276239619/


We have these flying inside our home. We believe that they are a Trichogramma. They are tiny. 1-2mm.


Cindi

[niecy]

Cindi!!! Yea!! Is this your first post with a picture??
That is an ugly little creature. Where do you find them, and how do you catch them?? .........xoNiecy

Originally Posted by Cindi

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23916956@N02/2276239619/


We have these flying inside our home. We believe that they are a Trichogramma. They are tiny. 1-2mm.


Cindi

[Cindi]

Hi Niecy,

I see them flying through out the house especially at night. I caught it when it landed on my computer screen. I very carefully grabbed a baggy put it over it and I caught it! I caught it!

I said to myself You would have thought I was a little kid with all that excitement over a bug.

I knew when I said we had tiny little things flying all over the place I was not delusional .

They may be beneficial but when they land on me they creep me out. I am still wondering if there is a connection. So if anyone has made a concrete connection please let me know.

Cindi

[Jo]

good shots Cindi!!!!

He's a leggie little thing (bit like me ). See what you mean about the fairy wings. Never seen one like it before. Be great to get a match with others hey.

Do they sting?

cheers

Joey xxx

[Cindi]

Hi Jo,

I have conflicting statements on that. Here is one.

Trichogramma wasps also kill host eggs by feeding on them. The host egg is stung and the adult feeds on the drop of liquid appearing at the site of the sting, but no egg is laid. The host egg dies, leaving no evidence of parasitism. In some species of Trichogramma, host feeding contributes significantly to pest control (82). For this reason, egg hatch should be recorded in addition to egg parasitism. Typically, field collected or sentinel eggs are held for hatch and then scored as hatched or dead due to parasitization, predation, infertility (undeveloped) or undetermined causes.

Here is the link. I will find more. Interesting the cotton connection.

http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bu...0new%20species

They are not suppose to be harmful to humans, but what ever I have landing on my head sure feels like a sting. I am allergic to bees and wasp so this is a little frightening. Although from what I understand it would take many from such a small wasp to cause a reaction. Still makes me wonder about the shortness of breath I have experienced on and off and the swelling at the site of what felt like a sting to me.

I have to read it a little more carefully but what attracts it to the egg to begin with. Could this wasp mistake some substance on the human scalp for what it is looking for. Just a thought.

Let me know if you know more then I.

Cindi