Ichneumonid Wasps Part 2: Dimorphic Caterpillar Seeker (Cratichneumon paratus) Male on the Lynn Valley Trail, June 2018. This is a Male of the same species of Ichneumonid Wasp as the Female I posted yesterday. You can see that they're very different in coloration, and this is the case with many Ichneumonids, which adds to the confusion of identifying and of figuring out just how many species of these wasps there are. Males seek the Females for mating, but the Females seek Caterpillars of Moths or Butterflies to lay their eggs inside. The Wasp Larvae hatch and consume the Caterpillar from within. The first picture shows the antennae in their usual state: constant motion, but in the second they stood still for a moment so you can see their fascinating structure. . . As a sidenote, my identification of various creatures that I encounter wouldn't be possible without the incredible community of people on iNaturalist and Bugguide, both excellent websites for your identification needs. I certainly don't know all of these organisms off the top of my head but every time I submit photos to iNaturalist I learn a few more. . . . . . . . #nature #ontario #cratichneumon #ichneumonwasp #ichneumonid #parasitoids #parasitoidwasps #insect_macro_photography #macroinsect #insectnature #naturephotos #canadanaturelovers #lynnvalleytrail #blognorfolk #sciencefacts #entomology #norfolkwild #inaturalist #bugguide (at Lynn Valley Trail) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQBbcWEAmeA/?utm_medium=tumblr