Results of the Ichneumon Wasp

[Saorsa]

The eggs grow inside the body where they are laid but the pupa form outside.

Nature is kinda yucky sometimes.

[deetheturk]

Poor caterpillar, interesting capture Brian!

[NorthernFocus]

Science fiction writers don't need talent. All they need is knowledge of nature and a bare minimum of imagination.

[John 2]

Makes you wonder how/why nature arrives at this as a solution for one species. Good capture Brian.

[Saorsa]

Here is a Monarch Caterpillar in the process of parasitization.

[bnnrcn]

#1 is such an interesting image Brian. If you have any I would really like to see more of it I actually couldn't notice the fly in #2 because the image is a bit too brigt , but #3 shows everything perfectly, very nice shot indeed.

[Saorsa]

Here ya go, from the other side.



The caterpillar wasn't moving much and these were about all I could get of it.

This side had an interfering leaf so I don't show it much. This is a really tight crop because I found a hatch of spiders crawling on the bush and caterpillar. See the little brown spots.

Unfortunately, as is often the case with field close up and macro work, I didn't notice those tiny details until I was processing.

[bnnrcn]

It must be difficult for the caterpillar to protect the babies, they look very inviting for a good meal

[deetheturk]

Binnur, the caterpillar is the meal that is wasp larvae which feed on the poor caterpillar

[Saorsa]

Binnur, the caterpillar is the meal that is wasp larvae which feed on the poor caterpillar

Yep, the larvae have already fed inside the host. They have moved outside to pupate.

[bnnrcn]

Oh my God Poor caterpillar

Yep, the larvae have already fed inside the host. They have moved outside to pupate.

[bnnrcn]

Now, the title makes sense. Very strange cycle indeed Selfish and lazy wasp has found the easiest way for the babies

Binnur, the caterpillar is the meal that is wasp larvae which feed on the poor caterpillar

[vaez]

thanks for posting image
interesting capture

[Saorsa]

Oh, this was posted as a response to Netelia by Goeff F which showed one of the wasps that does this. I didn't want to interject in the post. Here is one of our locals.

[bnnrcn]

So, this is the selfish monster The image is very nice Brian, lovely colours and composition. But the dark part on the top right is very distracting. I would crop that part and go to a square crop , it might work better