holy crap, that is terrifying and really interesting at the same time.
T1o2n4y
This is likely a tomato hornworm caterpillar (*Manduca quinquemaculata*) that has been parasitized.
The white cocoons on the caterpillar are the pupae of a parasitic wasp, often of the genus Braconidae. These wasps lay their eggs inside the caterpillar, and once hatched, the larvae feed on the caterpillar from the inside, then emerge to form their cocoon outside.
This natural phenomenon helps control populations of these caterpillars, which can be very destructive to tomato plants. Nature is doing its work, and these wasps are valuable allies.
Susiejax
Glorious
winowmak3r
It’s about as bad as I imagined it would be. Something straight out of an *Alien* movie.
Dang. What did he do that deserved having to die looking like a used condom…….😬🥺
jenniferfrederick0
That’s intriguing.
n0nsequit0rish
Not for the second one in the back…
CavatinaCabaletta
That’s disgusting to look at! Thank you parasitic wasps for dealing with tomato pests! !!!
Tiredllama2486
Very cool, I worked at an entomology museum, specifically with the wasp/bee/ant collection and we had a few specimens like this in our collection. One part of my job was to count the number of eggs that were laid and number hatched.
Prestigious_Note2877
So I just learned about this the other day from my sisters boyfriend lol it’s crazy to actually see it 😖
26 Comments
I have never seen one afterwards! Cool!
Mother Nature is brutally awesome
Yikes
What are we looking at here
r/natureismetal
This feels like a scene out of metroid😨
Good to let the wasp do their thing.
Cool!
holy crap, that is terrifying and really interesting at the same time.
This is likely a tomato hornworm caterpillar (*Manduca quinquemaculata*) that has been parasitized.
The white cocoons on the caterpillar are the pupae of a parasitic wasp, often of the genus Braconidae. These wasps lay their eggs inside the caterpillar, and once hatched, the larvae feed on the caterpillar from the inside, then emerge to form their cocoon outside.
This natural phenomenon helps control populations of these caterpillars, which can be very destructive to tomato plants. Nature is doing its work, and these wasps are valuable allies.
Glorious
It’s about as bad as I imagined it would be. Something straight out of an *Alien* movie.
I am disgusted but can’t look away…. oh wow…
https://i.redd.it/24ga3ag96rpf1.gif
https://preview.redd.it/2zl1hgfc6rpf1.jpeg?width=1129&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3b81dce60b1d7656cb59638150ad178f93a73d99
Anyone know how these wasps overwinter?
Not a good day to have eyes
His short watch has ended.
Dang. What did he do that deserved having to die looking like a used condom…….😬🥺
That’s intriguing.
Not for the second one in the back…
That’s disgusting to look at! Thank you parasitic wasps for dealing with tomato pests! !!!
Very cool, I worked at an entomology museum, specifically with the wasp/bee/ant collection and we had a few specimens like this in our collection. One part of my job was to count the number of eggs that were laid and number hatched.
So I just learned about this the other day from my sisters boyfriend lol it’s crazy to actually see it 😖
Super awesome photo. The remnants..
r/natureismetal