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Nature's Pest Control
2008.09.12
Kevin discovered a couple of tomato hornworms on our Mexico Midget plant this morning.
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These were different from the one I photographed earlier this year. It's covered with braconid wasp larvae.
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Braconid wasps are a very beneficial insect, helping to control many kinds of bad pests.
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I'm torn when I see this. I hate what hornworms do to tomato plants, but what a gruesome way to go.
The female wasps inject eggs into the caterpillar’s body. The larvae that hatch from the eggs feed inside the caterpillar until they mature and eat their way out through the caterpillar’s skin. They then spin the characteristic cocoons from which adult wasps later emerge.
The female wasps inject eggs into the caterpillar’s body. The larvae that hatch from the eggs feed inside the caterpillar until they mature and eat their way out through the caterpillar’s skin. They then spin the characteristic cocoons from which adult wasps later emerge.
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Amazing set, very interesting pictures and explanations.
astrobrojler · 2008-09-16: 17:57
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WHOA - how interesting, I never knew about this, but very cool!! I couldn't even see the hornworm in the first two shots... and then I didn't even realize what was happening until I read what you wrote underneath. Thanks for sharing - I feel I always learn so much, not only about photography, but about life and nature from you... things I would never learn otherwise!! Thanks :)
KerBear · 2008-09-16: 18:29
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These are amazing; I have never seen anything like this before.
busybee36 · 2008-09-17: 00:34
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Wow so weird and good reportage
mystic1 · 2008-09-17: 03:08
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Gruesome, and at the same time, really cool. It's good to see parasites on something that isn't soft and fluffy for a change. ;)
lorinalynn · 2008-09-17: 20:35
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i didnt even get it was a thing until the third picture!!! amazing set, and great information... sounds yucky though : )
hyperactive4368 · 2008-11-06: 18:57
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