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This ~6mm fly hatched from a larva of nymphalis io. abdomen shiny blue; thorax shiny green and red eyes.

- which genus?
- how and when does it put the eggs?

I found the nymphalis io as L1 and had it in a hermetic cage. Is the fly parasiting the caterpillars already in L1 phase?

thanks for support

Norbert.

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another pic

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Doesn't look very parasitic to me - looks more like a stratiomyid. Could this have emerged from leaf-litter or foliage that was in the same cage as the io larvae? That's one of the problems rearing parasites because you usually have to isolate any hosts to make sure that you know that the emerged parasitoid has coem from it.

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I think you are right. That really looks like a soldier fly.

Some caterpillars are definitely parasited. I found some cocoons beside dead io larvas and put them aside in a glass with soil and leaves. In this glass i found the fly mentioned. But it did not hatch from one od the cocoons. So I thought probably from one of the caterpillar bodies...

I will screen leaves and soil. Maybe I find an empty pupae..

Thanks for help;

Norbert.

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No problem ... with parasitoid pupae it's normally good practice to just put them into a glass tube with a cork bung. This allows humidity to pass through and the lack of remains/foliage etc prevents mould. Then keep them in a shaded garage or shed which maintains it and normal outdoor shade temperatures. :)

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It is Microchrysa polita, a soldierfly. The larvae develop among the moist dead leaves.