Parasites on caterpillar

Not sure if the blue thingies were eggs, bug or nymphs of some sort. Saw this little moth caterpillar crawling over some mulch and moving very fast. It would stop and writhe and continue to move. Seems whatever was hitching a ride was bothering it. We had our monthly butterfly club meeting so I had the other folks look at it.

One guy felt sorry for the caterpillar so he removed the blue thingies. Never could figure out what they were but it looks like there is a tiny larva inside. Didn't get a close up of the squished blue thingies...but did take photos of the caterpillar with them.

~ Cat

another photo.

~ Cat

Ewwww, parasites. : (

Good educational pictures, tho, Cat. : )
~Lucy

Its a bug eat bug world out there!

Great pics Cat!! Thanks for sharing them!
Poor caterpillar :(

Lisa

In case I forgot to mention - one of the guys at our monthly meeting removed the blue thingies...and we released the caterpillar. It seemed happy to be rid of whatever those blue thingies on it's back were.

Am still a bit amazed that there were seven of those things on it...more so considering it was such a small caterpillar...barely an inch long. Guess even the tiny guys get bugs :o)

~ Cat