Parasitoids are an important part of ecosystems and the web of life. Without them some caterpillars would proliferate and eat everything in sight. Yes, I know! You don't want a luna moth, especially your luna moth, to die. I understand that very well; I hate it when crab spiders, ambush bugs, cuckoo bees or parasitoids get to my beloved pollinators. But, that is life. Sigh!

I don't think it would help even if I removed this single parasitoid since the caterpillar is showing signs on its other side of even more parasites to come.

Just as I thought, today there were quite a few more larva emerging from the caterpillar. Some have already formed cocoons. My guess is that these are Cotesia larva. I'll see what eventually emerges from the cocoons.

the cat...sooo..it sorta removed itself. i have tried to remove or crush fly eggs on cats ive found with some sucess..but it is very tedious. i wonder if one or 2 wasps this small would kill this big cat or if this is just the start of many waspstocome..it dont look good, for sure.