what is going on here

Moved

Moved from Geometrid Moths.

… john and jane balaban, 7 December, 2011 - 7:00pm

Caterpillar may be

Phigalia strigataria, but difficult to say for certain.
Beatriz suggested moving this to Braconids

… john and jane balaban, 7 December, 2011 - 6:59pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… Randy Hardy, 6 May, 2011 - 4:28pm

I'm no expert but ...

Those might be parasitic Braconid wasp cocoons on a Geometrid moth caterpillar. Some of these are covered in Charlie Eisman's book (1) but there are thousands of possibilities. You could probably find some photos here on BugGuide if you browsed through caterpillars.
Here's one photo I found

Again, I'm only guessing

… Randy Hardy, 28 April, 2011 - 9:36pm

Bingo

The wasp larvae (probably subfamily Microgastrinae) developed inside the inchworm, and when they were finished feeding they chewed holes in its back to emerge and spin cocoons. Eventually the adult wasps will chew their way out of the cocoons and fly away.

… Charley Eiseman, 29 April, 2011 - 6:56am

ah sweet thank you im glad so

ah sweet thank you im glad somebody out here knows this stuff i just like to find it and observe it i have no ideas about names for most insects beyond the basics

… Joshua, 30 April, 2011 - 10:39pm