Tube Feeding by Sisyridivora cavigena (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on Climacia areolaris (Neuroptera: Sisyridae)

Females of the parasitoid Sisyridivora cavigena Gahan construct a feeding tube with their ovipositors to feed on the body fluids of hosts, prepupae and pupae of Climacia areolaris (Hagen). The wasp mounts an unparasitized host cocoon and probes with the ovipositor and, on finding the host, paralyzes it. After a few minutes a clear fluid flows from the inserted ovipositor and congeals around it to form a feeding tube. Withdrawing the ovipositor, the wasp turns and feeds upon the fluids drawn up through the tube by capillarity. More than one tube may be constructed, either for additional feeding or because the previous tube was defective. Oviposition may occur after feeding. The attacked host apparently acquires a chemical message from the wasp or the tube which deters subsequent wasps from feeding on it.