Plutarchia (wasp)

Plutarchia is a genus of wasps belonging to the family Eucharitidae. These wasps are parasitoids, meaning they develop by feeding on and ultimately killing another insect host. Plutarchia wasps are generally associated with ant hosts, and their life cycle involves complex strategies to locate and parasitize the ant colonies. The female wasps typically lay their eggs near the nests or foraging trails of the host ants. The resulting larvae, known as planidia, are highly mobile and actively seek out their ant hosts. They may attach themselves to the ants and be carried back to the nest, where they then parasitize ant larvae or pupae within the colony.