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Wildlife Spotting

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Field Notes

Description:

Caterpillar parasited by a wasp with wasp cocoons.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (3)
Michael Strydom
I know, I have a wasp here in South Africa doing the same thing and it caught me way off guard until I found out what is was. Very cool spotting!!!
Diaz José Miguel
Thanks! so this guy is dead? I thought that the larvae developed inside of the caterpillar. I still found it quite strange to see this guy all flat between those cocoons. Great parasitic relationship.
Michael Strydom
Greetings!! Great Shot!!! This looks like the work of a parasitic wasp that paralyses a caterpillar with its sting and then lays its eggs directly into it. The young larva hatch and eat the caterpillar from the inside finally emerging to spin cocoons for themselves and develop into adult wasps. According to my search there are around 200 species of caterpillar wasp in Costa Rica and each one favours a caterpillar. Hope this helps!!! I will let you know if a find something.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Butterflies & Moths of the World
Mission
Arthropods parasitised by other arthropods
Photographed
PublishedOctober 3, 2016

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