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Project Noah Nature School
Another caterpillar found its bitter end. In this case, it was a very young one.
Spotted on Oct 17, 2012
Submitted on Oct 17, 2012
18 Comments
Fuera de serie amiguito futurista::
Can't wait to hear about this ID. WOW!
Incrível!
Great spot, though I can't help feeling sorry for the caterpillar!
Thank you all for the kind comments. Of course J is right. This is not the first time I spot an infested caterpillar: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/106.... And, in this other spotting - http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/856... - , is possible to see a small insect attached to the cat, which may (or may not) be in the process of inserting its eggs in the cat's body. Last, I spotted these (cocoons? eggs?) attached to a twig, I can't ID them, but they look very much like those found on the caterpillars.
Sorry Yuko - not a parasitic fungus at all. I am happy the experts have arrived.
Hi Yuko and Argy! Actually they are cocoons of wasp parasites.
Here is a link showing another type of caterpillar being parasitized. I think they are Braconid Wasps.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galve...
Hi Yuko.. the parts on top would be the fruiting bodies of the fungus which has gone through inside the caterpillar body, just like mushrooms pop up from a mycelium which might be underground. Impressive isn't it !
Amazing!
Wow, an amazing shot!
Poor thing! What are the things on the top? Cocoons of the parasites?
Awesome!
Juan, Bayucca, Argy, Leuba & Lars, thank you.
Great spotting, Sergio - and a great shot as well. Congrats.
The poor caterpillar ! but I agree it is a great photo and spotting - thanks for sharing this.
Sad for the catty but it makes an extraordinary picture.
Looks like an Arctiidae.
poor caterpillar, is totally parasited