Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#922854
Parasitized Caterpillar

Parasitized Caterpillar
Brooker Creek Preserve, Pinellas County, Florida, USA
May 18, 2014

Images of this individual: tag all
Parasitized Caterpillar Parasitized Caterpillar

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

Cotesia sp.
This is a sphinx caterpillar (Sphingidae) that has been parasitized by a parasitic wasp in family Braconidae, in genus Cotesia. The white things are cocoons that have been vacated. After the wasp maggots are finished feeding on the caterpillar host, they exit the caterpillar's body and spin their cocoons outside the body. Most or all of these have been vacated, since the pupal stage individuals in the cocoons have metamorphosed into mature wasps and left.

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.