CLOSED: interesting Caterpiller (sorry so fuzzy)

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DMMSMM Hummelstown, PA Aug 13, 2008

A friend asked me what this was. I'm not sure but I thought the white rice looking parts were egg sacks. I've never seen a caterpillar like this. Maybe it's the eggs are a parasite?

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Aug 13, 2008

This is a sphinx moth caterpillar in the genus Manduca (tomato and tobacco hornworms) that has been parasitized by a wasp in the family Braconidae. Each 'rice grain' is a cocoon feom which an adult wasp will emerge. See http://www.ipmimages.org/browse/subimages.cfm?area=62&sub=6975 for more information.

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ceejaytown The Woodlands, TX(Zone 9a) Aug 13, 2008

Those are the pupae of a braconid wasp that has parasitized a tomato hornworm. A tiny wasp (doesn't sting people) will emerge from each of those cocoons, mate, and the females will search out other caterpillars to lay her eggs in. The eggs hatch inside the caterpillar, and the larvae dine on the nonessential to life parts until they pupate. These are considered beneficial insects. The caterpillar doesn't survive.

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