The parasitoid wasp Cotesia sibyllarum (Wilkinson, 1936) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea: Braconidae) is a specialist that parasitizes the young caterpillars of the White Admiral (Limenitis camilla) and the Southern White Admiral (Limenitis reducta).
In this film three attacks are fimed on three different caterpillars of the Southern White Admiral.
The female can inject up to 20 eggs into the caterpillar’s body. After 14 to 18 days, when the parasitized caterpillar is mature, the larvae will erupt from the host and make white cocoons on the host body. After 7 days the adultwasps emerge.

In the south of France the Southern White Admiral has two generations and overwinters as a instar 2 caterpillar. If an overwintering caterpillar is parasitized the larvae will overwinter inside the body.

Identification and remarks Dr. Mark R. Shaw

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