Cuckoo Wasps

Family Chrysididae

Chrysis coerulans. Photo:Stephanie Boucher

Cuckoo wasps are external parasites of wasp or bee larvae. They also attack sawfly larvae and eggs of stick-insects. When disturbed usually curl up into a ball. Cuckoo wasps have a coarsely sculpted, metallic green, blue or red body. The abdomen is hollowed out on the ventral surface and is usually curled under in dead specimens.