This female Ancistrocerus gazella ^[1] was hunting around an Oregano (Origanum vulgare) plant. The species can very often be seen hunting around this plant in the our garden. This time her excited behaviour indicated she had found something. Almost immediately she started stinging between the flower buds and pulled out a caterpillar. The larva, a Double-striped pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata), was still small and apparently didn’t satisfy her needs. After investigating the larva for a bit she left it hanging by its threat and flew away. Some movement by the caterpillar indicated it was not yet entirely paralysed.

Ancistrocerus gazella ♀︎, imago with Double-striped pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)

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