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.
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 !
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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