Functional anatomy of the ovipositor clip in the parasitoid Leptopilina heterotoma (Thompson) (Hymenoptera: Eucoilidae): a structure to grip escaping host larvae.

Observations on the host attack behaviour of the parasitoid Leptopilina heterotoma (Hymenoptera : Eucoilidae) led to the supposition that this wasp should possess a structure on its ovipositor by which it can hold a host larvae in a fixed position until the larva is paralyzed. The ovipositor was studied by light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and appeared to have a clip with teeth on the unpaired valve of the ovipositor, about 50 m from the tip. Based on the structure of this ovipositor clip and the oviposition behaviour, the functioning of the ovipositor clip is discussed