Thought y'all might be getting tired of looking at my brugs, so I thought I'd post this caterpillar. He's been attacked some time ago by parasitic wasps, they lay their eggs inside him, the eggs hatch and now they are pupating, soon will hatch and fly away. They haven't hatched yet, no holes in the cocoons. The worm is in a sort of suspended animation right now, he won't eat. He will die when the wasps hatch.
What a fascinating picture. I have never seen anything like this before. Thanks for posting such unique pictures. By the way, I hate those green worms, but I knew they were good for something.
Amazing picture. Wonder if worms feel pain. Looks like that might hurt.
did you buy the wasps? I've seen them for sale, but as big as my yard is, they'd go the wrong way for sure! cool picture
I've seen them on the tomato hornworm too. The only reason I don't like to kill them, but have to or I'd have too many hummer moths around here.
TiG, there seem to always be a few cats with these on them. The tomato hornworms too. The wasps aren't picky, sometimes they get a monarch or swallowtail cat. I hate that.
Oh my God, the poor caterpillar is alive but can not move and is being used for a living incubator?? they are growing inside of it? How cruel? Are they eating him from the inside slowly? what is so good about parasitic wasps?? gee, I am going to have nightmares tonight as if I wasn't already going to have them. But now there will be terrorist wasps out to get me also......and boy could alot live on me for a long time!!
EEWW- I hate this stuff. I have the Sunset Problem Solver book - I hate to open it. Sometimes ignorance really is bliss.
I used to be not such a wuss........... but I am with you now Liz. Age has gentled me............or has it just made me senile!
