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larose forest photos | all galleries >> INSECTS (INSECTA) (28 Galleries) >> Moth Caterpillars >> Cutworm Moths and Allies (Family: Noctuidae) 8536 - > Caterpillar parasitized by a "mummy" wasp, possibly a Saltmarsh Caterpillar
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26-AUG-2015 Christine Hanrahan

Caterpillar parasitized by a "mummy" wasp, possibly a Saltmarsh Caterpillar

Mer Bleue area

This is a very dead caterpillar. The poor thing had been parasitized by a Braconid wasp. The eggs laid on the caterpillar eventually hatched, the larvae grew, pupated on the body and emerged...you can see the round holes on this shell or husk of the caterpillar. The wasps that cause this are called "mummy wasps" because the caterpillar host becomes stuck to a plant and mummifies, a process that is not pleasant! The round exit holes are characteristic.

Panasonic LUMIX FZ200
1/1300s f/2.8 at 4.5mm iso125 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time26-Aug-2015 12:09:23
MakePanasonic
ModelDMC-FZ200
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length4.5 mm
Exposure Time1/1250 sec
Aperturef/2.8
ISO Equivalent125
Exposure Bias
White Balance
Metering Mode
JPEG Quality
Exposure Program
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium large original auto
Carl Carbone31-Aug-2015 01:12
Great find and capture.
Carol Rollins27-Aug-2015 15:11
Wow, Christine, great find and wonderful example of Nature. Thanks for the info.
laine26-Aug-2015 21:37
I like it when the wasp does this to aphids...!!
Jim Coffman26-Aug-2015 20:59
Oh my, not a way to die!! Nicely captured!
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