Xanthandrus comptus Harris (Diptera Syrphidae)

Slug-like, green-reddish larva preying inside the nest in autumn and winter (figure on the left). Polyphagous, can specialize on processionary moth in autumn-winter. Adult as in figure on the right.

Predators on larva

Other arthropods preying on larvae

Arachnidae

Neuroptera Chrysopidae (figure on the right)

Hymenoptera Formicidae

Spiders, lacewing larvae (figure on the right) and ants are common predators, especially on young larvae.

Vertebrates preying on larvae in the nest or on the ground

Tits (Parus sp.) and dormouses (Myoxus, Eliomys) can prey on larvae inside the nest, cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) and hoopoe (Upupa epops) on branches and on the ground.

On the right, photos of a nest with the holes made by tits.

 

Hoopoe (Upupa epops)

Predation mainly in stand edges, throughout spring and summer. The bird can prey on larvae of pupal parasitoids as well, in this case the pupal cuticle is left with the cocoon.

Predation can occur on the branches and on the ground (upper image on the right).

The lower figure on the right shows cocoons extracted by the hoopoe and left on the ground, pupa eaten by the bird.