Anomalon
An anomalon is like a bug that likes to hide inside other bugs. Imagine if your friend had a toy that had a smaller toy inside of it, and that toy had an even smaller toy inside of it, and so on. That's what an anomalon is like, but with bugs instead of toys.
Anomalon is actually the name of a group of insects that like to lay their eggs inside other insects. They are called parasitoids because they live on or inside their hosts and eventually kill them. Anomalon parasitoids are very good at finding their host insects and will often lay their eggs inside the insects' bodies.
Once the eggs hatch, the tiny anomalon larvae will eat the insides of the host insect until it dies. This may sound scary, but anomalon parasitoids are actually really helpful in controlling populations of harmful insects like caterpillars, which can damage crops and plants.
Next time you see a caterpillar munching on a plant, remember that there might be an anomalon hiding inside it, ready to hatch and help keep our plants healthy!
Anomalon is actually the name of a group of insects that like to lay their eggs inside other insects. They are called parasitoids because they live on or inside their hosts and eventually kill them. Anomalon parasitoids are very good at finding their host insects and will often lay their eggs inside the insects' bodies.
Once the eggs hatch, the tiny anomalon larvae will eat the insides of the host insect until it dies. This may sound scary, but anomalon parasitoids are actually really helpful in controlling populations of harmful insects like caterpillars, which can damage crops and plants.
Next time you see a caterpillar munching on a plant, remember that there might be an anomalon hiding inside it, ready to hatch and help keep our plants healthy!