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larose forest photos | all galleries >> INSECTS (INSECTA) (28 Galleries) >> Moth Caterpillars > Parasitized moth caterpillar
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18-SEP-2016 Christine Hanrahan

Parasitized moth caterpillar

Burnt Lands Provincial Park

This is just the empty husk of a moth caterpillar, parasitized by, I think, the tiny Aleiodes wasp, called the mummy wasp because all it leaves behind is a husk like this after it has fed on the caterpillar. Actually, it is not one wasp, it is many, and it is the larvae of the wasps, not the adults who do the feeding.

Panasonic LUMIX FZ200
1/100s f/3.5 at 4.5mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
Tom Murray28-Mar-2017 02:56
Nice find Christine. I've seen mummy caterpillars, but not one of the fancy ones like this.
Pierre Martin25-Mar-2017 17:53
a great find and picture!
Industrial Heritage25-Mar-2017 15:43
Nature can be hard but wonderful at the same time. Interesting image and so detailed.
bill friedlander25-Mar-2017 15:03
Very interesting phenomenon. Thanks for the explanation. V
Helen Betts25-Mar-2017 14:31
I can't help but feel sorry for the caterpillar. V.
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