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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » "Parasitica" - Parasitoid Wasps » Braconid and Ichneumonid Wasps (Ichneumonoidea) » Braconid Wasps (Braconidae) » Microgastrinae » Cotesia » Hornworm Parasitoid Wasp (Cotesia congregata)
Photo#75268
Horned Caterpillar - Cotesia congregata
Copyright © 2006 Jacques S. Doucet

Horned Caterpillar - Cotesia congregata
Maringouin, Iberville Parish, Louisiana, USA
September 5, 2006
Horned caterpillar with passengers. Identification please. Note to Ms. Hannah, if you pass this way -- will you look at the caterpillar and use your best judgement as to what the tiny maggot-like forms are on its back. The caterpillar was found on Ilex vomitoria, thrashing around as though trying to remove the parasites. Thanks Jacques
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Contributed by Jacques S. Doucet on 5 September, 2006 - 3:23pm
Last updated 12 November, 2008 - 1:25pm

Moved
Moved from Cocoons and parasitized caterpillars.
… Charley Eiseman, 12 November, 2008 - 1:25pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Braconid Wasps.
… john and jane balaban, 8 September, 2007 - 10:19pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Wasps.
… Eric R. Eaton, 16 November, 2006 - 5:53pm login or register to post comments

Hey I found one of these too
Hey I found one of these too & will post it.
… Isaiah, 5 September, 2006 - 3:35pm login or register to post comments

 
I'm pretty sure (but not 100% certain)
that these are wasp pupae. I've had these in my yard, and the adult ?wasp is just visible in this shot - you can also see that some of the cocoons have their lids flipped open:



here's a close-up of the adult:



If you google "parasitoid" you can find a lot of images like this one, with the cocoons attributed to a braconid wasp.
… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 5 September, 2006 - 4:21pm login or register to post comments

 
Thank you
very much Ms. Hannah. I cleaned them off the caterpillar and made a home for it in the same cage with the Datana major. Let's see what happens. Jacques
… Jacques S. Doucet, 5 September, 2006 - 4:46pm login or register to post comments

 
I predict it will not pupate successfully
- those larvae have been eating its insides for a long time. :(
… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 5 September, 2006 - 4:49pm login or register to post comments

 
Poor thing
When I picked the tiny larvae off, its body leaked clear fluids. Can you explain why it was on a holly shrub? It appears to be a tomato worm and should have been feasting on Nightshade.
… Jacques S. Doucet, 5 September, 2006 - 7:24pm login or register to post comments

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