Tachinidae : Buquetia musca - Attack 5, Callas, 7 August 2013

After the failed attempt of Buquetia musca to parasitize the caterpiller, small arthropods are seen walking around on the Papilio machaon caterpillar (from 5:27 to 6:09 minutes) who are likely eriophyid mites (identified by Lisa Lumley the mite taxonomist at Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). Eriophyidae are herbivores (some make galls), which could explain how they ended up on the caterpillar. There is no other connection between them and the caterpillar.

Identification Buquetia musca Dr. Hans-Peter Tschorsnig.

Biological observations on Buquetia musca (Robineau-Desvoidy) (Diptera: Tachinidae), a parasitoid of Papilio machaon Linné (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)

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With thanks to Dr. Matthias Buck,
Invertebrate Zoology
Royal Alberta Museum
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada

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