tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013316887660017880.post5679742064202994629..comments2024-03-25T16:04:06.581-05:00Comments on MObugs: Parasite InfestationShelly Coxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367843308248195970noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013316887660017880.post-91783681083688530772010-09-06T17:26:57.846-05:002010-09-06T17:26:57.846-05:00How wonderful that you have one of these large cat...How wonderful that you have one of these large caterpillars. As gruesome as it sounds, yes your caterpillar is indeed infested with parasitoids. Those white egg-like projections are the cocoons of the brachonid wasp which uses sphinx moth caterpillars as their host quite frequently. Even though it seems sad, it is mother nature at work, and those little wasps need to survive too. Your son could take the caterpillar to school with the cocoons on it and explain to the class what is happening to the caterpillar and that while the caterpillar is destined to perish, those wasps will hatch and carry on their life cycle. So much of the time in life something must die in order for something else to survive. These are also good life lessons for children (as long as they are old enough)Shelly Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18367843308248195970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013316887660017880.post-19491951452569736602010-09-06T16:00:34.256-05:002010-09-06T16:00:34.256-05:00My son has one of these caterpillars living on his...My son has one of these caterpillars living on his pepper plant outside our house. He named her Layla and was planning to take her to school with him so his classmates could watch her form a chrysalis. Is this a bad idea? She too has quite a few of these white cocoons on her body. We assumed she was "pregnant" and those were her babies. Are they really killing her? Should we attempt to remove them?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013316887660017880.post-74105632793813009452009-09-19T22:24:18.982-05:002009-09-19T22:24:18.982-05:00LOL, Maria you are a crack up. I will say that spi...LOL, Maria you are a crack up. I will say that spider gave my boss quit a start. He was determined to squish it. Once I told him that those were babies and that if he tried killing her there was a pretty good chance those babies would make a break for it, he decided it might be best to let me scoop her into a cup and contain her until I could release her. They make me shiver for sure. I love insects, but spiders just freak me out!!!!Shelly Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18367843308248195970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013316887660017880.post-52848822881030908202009-09-19T22:04:37.215-05:002009-09-19T22:04:37.215-05:00It's sort of bedtime now and I have NO IDEA WH...It's sort of bedtime now and I have NO IDEA WHY I CAME BACK TO YOUR SITE AT THIS HOUR. What is the matter with me? Your stories are too compelling, I guess. Anyway, I'm getting used to spiders. Feeling pretty comfortable with that too...not getting in their way...too much. But OMG, your photo of the momma wolf spider with her hitch-hiking babies? In your OFFICE????? Near your feet?????? Eeeeugh. Eeeeugh. Eeeeeeugh. That's beyond wince-able, that makes my neck shrink into my shoulders while I shiver. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee!Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16769488099776508540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013316887660017880.post-10751315076626145882009-09-18T14:38:29.801-05:002009-09-18T14:38:29.801-05:00Maria, your comment cracked me up...it is creepy t...Maria, your comment cracked me up...it is creepy though isn't it?Shelly Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18367843308248195970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013316887660017880.post-47814376588656361662009-09-17T22:32:23.814-05:002009-09-17T22:32:23.814-05:00Note to self. Don't check out mobugs' site...Note to self. Don't check out mobugs' site before going to bed. <br /><br />(Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!! I'm still wincing.)Mariahttp://www.gardeningwithturtles.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013316887660017880.post-75575027080558577482009-09-16T15:56:28.048-05:002009-09-16T15:56:28.048-05:00Thanks Eric. Good thing moths are prolific..lol
I...Thanks Eric. Good thing moths are prolific..lol<br /><br />I did a double-take when I found this caterpillar. <br /><br />The caterpillar was on a lilac, but I am uncertain if it had been feeding on the lilac or if it just crawled there and was living out its final moments there. I couldn't find many records of sphinx moth caterpillars that use lilac as a host.Shelly Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18367843308248195970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013316887660017880.post-87977642737759215402009-09-16T13:18:07.174-05:002009-09-16T13:18:07.174-05:00Nice post! The caterpillar is indeed that of a sp...Nice post! The caterpillar is indeed that of a sphinx moth, but I'm not sure which one. The sheer number of caterpillars out there must be astronomical considering how many things eat them! We should be astounded that any of them survive to adulthood.Bug Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06253157009010644214noreply@blogger.com