Bug people, I am not sure what's happening here

[Rita]

Hi all, on my walk today I felt something brush my arm and when I looked I saw this grasshopper (?) landing on the ground and it had something on it's neck. Upon closer look it appeared to be a bee/wasp in like a cacooon type casing. I have never seen this kind of thing before so I am wondering if anyone happens to know what it is that is happening? Do grasshoppers store and eat bees/wasps? I know that these images are not great but I am more interested in the situation but as always any feedback/critiques are most welcomed.


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[Saorsa]

Some wasps parasitize other insects. They lay their eggs inside another species and allow their offspring to mature. In this picture, a caterpillar has been parasitized by a tiny Icheumon wasp. It lays it's eggs which mature inside the caterpillar and they dig their way out to pupate.

[IzzieK]

Yikes!!!!

[Rita]

Brian, thank you so much for the info. I had no idea.

Izzie,

[Saorsa]

If you get Mud Dauber Wasps that build the tubular mud nests, break one open sometime. They paralyze spiders and put them in with their eggs so the young'uns have something to eat when they hatch.

[Rita]

Brian, I don't do well with spiders so I think I will pass on that one and trust you that they are there