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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Moths » Bombycoidea » Sphinx Moths (Sphingidae) » Sphinginae » Sphingini » Manduca » Carolina Sphinx - Hodges#7775 (Manduca sexta)
Photo#329735
Hornworm & Fly (behavior question & ID) - Manduca sexta
Copyright © 2009 Tzila "Z" Duenzl

Hornworm & Fly (behavior question & ID) - Manduca sexta
Horseshoe Bend, Weatherford, Parker County, Texas, USA
June 9, 2009
I observed a very strange situation today...at least to me. I was taking pics of the Hornworm (ID?) and suddenly this fly(ID?)appeared and began to attack the caterpillar. It struck over & over, and seemed to be biting the caterpillar. The caterpillar was quite bothered and thrashed it's fore-body back and forth. It also exuded some brown substance. When the fly would take a break, the caterpillar would try to clean itself. But the fly continued its attack off & on for minutes. I had to leave the sight to attend to other matters, so don't know how it ended. I will check the caterpillar tomorrow. I also have video of the fly attacking, if anyone is interested. I would appreciate ID help with both the caterpillar & the fly. Thank you.
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Contributed by Tzila "Z" Duenzl on 6 September, 2009 - 11:56pm
Last updated 27 September, 2009 - 4:47am

Sure would like....
...to see the Moth! Haven't seen it.
… Tzila "Z" Duenzl, 27 September, 2009 - 7:28am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Ron M., 27 September, 2009 - 4:47am login or register to post comments

hornworm
Well, the hornworm is Manduca sexta, looks like an early instar.
… Ryan, 7 September, 2009 - 9:04am login or register to post comments

 
Yes I said that as well.
Towards the end of my post :)
… Natalie Hernandez, 7 September, 2009 - 12:26pm login or register to post comments

Yes it was parasitizing the caterpillar
Tachinid flies often parastize caterpillars. I'm not sure what kind of tachinid this is though. I once pulled 4-5 monarch caterpillars off milkweed, took them home, raised them for weeks until they were ready to pupate. One day they all hung upside down in a J, and unfortunaley a bunch of maggots came out, dropped into the bottom of the container and pupated while the caterpillars all died. This caterpillar is a Manduca sexta and they drop to the ground to pupate, so if you want to see the flies emerging you'd have to keep it in a container of some sort.
… Natalie Hernandez, 7 September, 2009 - 1:53am login or register to post comments

 
Thank you....
...I appreciate the ID help. I did not 'save' the caterpillar to see the maggots and flies. Maybe another time.
… Tzila "Z" Duenzl, 27 September, 2009 - 7:24am login or register to post comments

Not for sure but
Not for sure but maybe the fly was laying eggs? I know certain wasp will parasitize caterpillars in a similar fashion. I hope someone else comments so we can know for sure :)
… Cody R. Hough, 7 September, 2009 - 12:57am login or register to post comments

 
Well...
...there we have it Cody!
… Tzila "Z" Duenzl, 27 September, 2009 - 7:25am login or register to post comments

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