# Cotesia

Cotesia are tiny wasps that help protect plants by controlling caterpillar populations. They are fascinating because they lay their eggs inside caterpillars, which helps keep the garden healthy!

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Cotesia live in gardens, fields, and forests where caterpillars are found.
- **Also known as:** Caterpillar killer, Cotesia wasp, Micro wasp

![Cotesia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cotesia.melanoscela9.-.lindsey.jpg&width=800)

Photo: James K. Lindsey, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cotesia.melanoscela9.-.lindsey.jpg)

## Appearance

The Cotesia is a tiny, slender wasp, typically black or dark brown, with two pairs of clear, membranous wings and long, thin antennae. Its body is smooth and often shiny, giving it a sleek appearance that distinguishes it from more robust flies or bees.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Hymenoptera
- **Family:** Braconidae
- **Genus:** Cotesia

## Interesting facts

- Adult Cotesia wasps can drink flower nectar, giving them the energy needed to find their caterpillar targets! Wow!
- After Cotesia larvae burst out, the caterpillar often stops eating and sometimes even guards the wasp cocoons! Wow!
- Some Cotesia species inject a special virus into their host to keep their eggs safe from the caterpillar's defenses! Wow!
- These amazing wasps are often smaller than a single grain of rice, making them super hard to spot! Wow!

## Special abilities

- **Caterpillar Transformer:** Cotesia can lay its eggs inside caterpillars, transforming the host into a nursery and food source for its growing larvae.
- **Immune System Dodger:** Cotesia has special viruses that suppress the host caterpillar's immune system, protecting its eggs from being destroyed.
- **Zombie Commander:** Some Cotesia larvae can make the caterpillar guard their cocoons, protecting them even after the larvae have burst out!
- **Scent Detective:** Cotesia can sniff out chemical signals released by plants under attack, guiding them directly to their caterpillar hosts.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 3-6 mm
- **Size:** 2-4 mm
- **Lifespan:** 10-25 days
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

Adult Cotesia wasps drink nectar, while their young feast on the insides of caterpillars as parasites.

- **Age differences:** Adults feed on plant sugars for energy; larvae are endoparasitoids, consuming the internal tissues of host caterpillars.
- **Primary Foods:** nectar, honeydew, plant sap
- **Foraging Method:** Null

## Ecological connections

- **Parasitizes:** Cabbage White Butterfly (*Pieris rapae*) — A common caterpillar host for several Cotesia species.
- **Parasitizes:** Beet Armyworm (*Spodoptera exigua*) — Cotesia helps control this significant agricultural pest.
- **Eaten by:** Flower Crab Spider (*Misumena vatia*) — Ambush predators that catch adult wasps on flowers.
- **Depends on:** [Canada Goldenrod](https://www.snappit.app/explore/canada-goldenrod) (*Solidago canadensis*) — Adult wasps feed on the nectar from these flowers.

## Traits

- [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Cotesia?

Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What is Cotesia's wingspan?

3-6 mm

### How big is Cotesia?

2-4 mm

### How long does Cotesia live?

10-25 days

### What does Cotesia eat?

Adult Cotesia wasps drink nectar, while their young feast on the insides of caterpillars as parasites.

### Where is Cotesia usually found?

Cotesia live in gardens, fields, and forests where caterpillars are found.

### How does Cotesia hunt?

Null

### How many legs does Cotesia have?

6

## Where to spot

- [Lakewood Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lakewood-park) — Virginia, US · Park

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Cotesia: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cotesia)