tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post6906349525808195285..comments2024-03-28T23:22:41.774-05:00Comments on TYWKIWDBI ("Tai-Wiki-Widbee"): Ichneumon wasp - in the grooveMinnesotastanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-14242186914049541222009-06-21T13:21:48.159-05:002009-06-21T13:21:48.159-05:00Oh, wow. I thought the ovipositors were just the t...Oh, wow. I thought the ovipositors were just the things that go down into the wood; I didn't realize they were the ends of the loops. But now I can see how it works.<br />Terrific photos.<br /><br />Luke, that would be very handy to have!Swift Lorisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-567042708061725362009-06-21T10:22:38.584-05:002009-06-21T10:22:38.584-05:00Another amazing thing about these wasps is that th...Another amazing thing about these wasps is that they inject not only eggs, but also viruses into the grub. The viruses help the wasp larva to survive the attacks of the grub's immune system as it develops. Remarkably, these viruses are part of the wasp's genome that "pop out" and act like independent entities. It's as if part of your DNA were to become a cold virus that infected your enemies! See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polydnavirus<br /><br />Love the blog, keep it up!Lukenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-44108312544711420872009-06-21T09:56:59.068-05:002009-06-21T09:56:59.068-05:00Those are the ovipositors! They exit from her tai...Those are the ovipositors! They exit from her tail, loop up in the air, then come down between her front legs where they pierce the wood. They are not always in that position - I think they stick straight back or may be retracted somehow when she's not laying eggs. I presume the arch helps her get leverage for the drilling procedure.Minnesotastanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-42955814944668116142009-06-21T09:32:34.846-05:002009-06-21T09:32:34.846-05:00What are the two graceful loops that stick way up ...What are the two graceful loops that stick way up from her back?Swift Lorisnoreply@blogger.com