Pittheus Metalmark - Caterpillar infested by wasp

thanks Luis

I see the difference now.

Thanks Alice, Jolly Ibanez, Christine Y., Luis, LaurenZarate and Cindy for your comments. Thank you for your explanation, Sergio. Today I found the dead caterpillar. I found a caterpillar of the same species, apparently healthy. I'll put the photo here for people to compare.

Sckel, I found this picture that shows a caterpillar infested by a braconid wasp, which looks a lot like yours: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bracon...

Like what Luis said, I also think that the caterpillar just passed by.

Very cool spotting!

Maybe the caterpillar just walked over it?

Very interesting Sckel!

Very interesting spotting! Thank you for sharing, Sckel.

Hard to believe the caterpillar could survive that many wasp parasites!

Sckel, the wasp lays its eggs inside the caterpillar, wereits larvae will develop. The larvae eat only the non-vital parts of the caterpillar, leaving it alive. Then, when the larvae are ready to pupate, they make a hole in the caterpillar's skin, an leave. The caterpillar will surely die soon, because of the injuries.

I wonder if the caterpillar could have been anestithised for awhile? Just all very strange.

Thanks, Sergio and alice. I do not understand how this works. It seems that wasps were born. I removed the caterpillar, she's alive. Maybe the caterpillar is only used as a shield.

Alice, I think that this caterpillar was infected by a wasp, and what you call eggs are, actually, empty cocoons.

Caterpillar guarding it's eggs? Fascinating picture!