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Southern Pine Sphinx Moth

Lapara coniferarum

Published on Project Noah
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36.853, -75.9774

Field Notes

Description:

Okay, I found it. There are two animals represented here. The hornworm and the Braconid Wasp. The wasp is a parasite but is beneficial to your garden, while the Hormworm is not.

Species ID Suggestions

Southern Pine Sphinx

Lapara coniferarum

Reference Link
ForestDragon
1

Comments (4)
ForestDragon
The stripes on this caterpillar and lack of a horn on the rear end match the Pine Sphinx. The white things on it's back are actually cocoons from parasitic wasp larvae. It looks like the cocoons have already hatched. Really neat find!
Maria dB
Well done investigating this spotting! I moved it to the arthropods category for you as it concerns insects.
Harsha Singh
Those eggs must be parasites on the caterpillar.
coyoteowlwoman
The caterpillar is being parasitized by wasp eggs laid on its back. It most likely is paralyzed but still alive. Gruesome eh?
Photographed
PublishedAugust 9, 2013

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