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Georgian Prominent - Hodges#7917 (Paraeschra georgica)
Photo#10699
Copyright © 2005
Lynette Elliott
Georgian Prominent -
Paraeschra georgica
Fort Bragg, Cumberland County, North Carolina, USA
June 4, 2004
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Contributed by
Lynette Elliott
on 1 February, 2005 - 6:36pm
Last updated 27 November, 2007 - 2:16pm
dead
By the way, I think this one was freshly killed. I was taking a picture of a wasp and made it nervous enough to drop the caterpillar. See linked image.
…
Lynette Elliott
, 1 February, 2005 - 6:38pm
Probably just paralyzed
The wasp had paralyzed it and was probably making its way to a burrow where it would place it along with an egg. Morbid, I know, but the caterpillar gets eaten alive.
…
Troy Bartlett
, 1 February, 2005 - 11:03pm
paralysis
Are only the motor neurons affected? Or are sensory neurons anesthetized too? If both are disabled, being eaten alive might be as blissful as having a nap on the couch. But if a wasp's "venom" acts like curare, the senses remain intact during paralysis.
(See
bizarre account
of a man who allowed himself to be completely paralyzed by curare.)
…
Robin McLeod
, 3 February, 2005 - 1:28am
Did some checking
According to some research mentioned by Chapman in The Insects
(
1
)
, the venom affects neither sensory input nor motor output. He mentions a neuromodulatory effect based on where the injection occurs. I think it basically means that by stinging in a particular spot, certain motor functions (leg movement, say) can be stopped. For the specific wasp and prey mentioned, it would consistently sting first in one spot and then in another.
It all makes me glad I'm not on the menu.
…
Troy Bartlett
, 3 February, 2005 - 6:55pm
Nuts
This guy is officially nuts in my book. So, I guess by his account the caterpillar feels every bite...
…
Lynette Elliott
, 3 February, 2005 - 6:03am