Frequency and consequences of the collection of already parasitized caterpillars by a potter wasp
Journal: Scientific Reports
Year: 2020

Maladaptive behaviors reflecting a "bad" choice of habitat or resource have been widely documented; however, their persistence is often difficult to interpret. The potter wasp Delta dimidiatipenne constructs mud cells, in each of which it lays a single egg and places several caterpillars to feed its offspring. Preliminary observations indicated that a portion of these caterpillars were already parasitized and contained the offspring of the gregarious parasitoid Copidosoma primulum. As a result,