- Parasitoids are members of the Hymenoptera family of insects. This means that they are related to such insects as wasps, ants and termites. In the full scope of things, parasitoids make up only about 8 percent of all insects.
- Parasitoids are unique in that during their life cycle their habits vary from characteristically predatorlike to characteristically parasitic. The process begins when an adult female parasitoid bears her eggs. Here is where the idiosyncrasy begins as parasitoids must have a host to lay their eggs. This host is usually a caterpillar or some other type of fleshy insect.
- After finding a suitable host, a parasitoid uses an appendage on its abdomen called an ovipositor. Parasitoids insert their ovipositor into the perspective host and paralyze it. Also using the ovipositor, the parasitoid injects its eggs into the paralyzed insect.
- After the eggs have been deposited into the host, the parasitic phase of life begins. Because the host is only paralyzed and not killed, the insect's body remains alive and is able to provide continuous fresh food for the growing eggs.
- After the eggs have gone through their incubation stage, they are ready to pupate. This means that the eggs are ready to become larvae and begin their lives in the outside world. To do this, the newly hatched larvae eat their way out of the paralyzed host.
- After exiting their host, the larvae begin their transition into adulthood. This transition is marked by leaving the parasitic lifestyle behind and becoming a predator. As a predator, the fully grown parasitoid will look for a new host to lay eggs of its own and start the life cycle over again.
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