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pics Misc macro pics
- Thread starter caroltlw
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That's what those are! It's actually a parasitic wasp that lays it's eggs on the hornworm's back. When the babies hatch, they hatch INTO the worm, and have plenty to eat.
You could keep that one alive until the babies hatch, and then when it's dead and the baby wasps are come out, stick it in the garden again! More harbingers of death on your squad!
You could keep that one alive until the babies hatch, and then when it's dead and the baby wasps are come out, stick it in the garden again! More harbingers of death on your squad!
Cool pic Carol, I just enjoy seeing one of those plant eaters meet its just demise. 
AlabamaJack
Extreme Member
poor ol' hornworm....dying an agonizing slow death being eaten from the inside out...
I watched a programme about them the other night
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/in-the-womb/3708/Overview64#tab-parasitic-wasp-gestation
The wasp also injects a hormone along with its larvae to stop the bugs immune system from atacking them. Then before they leave the Caterpillar they release a hormone which makes it guard and protect their cacoons.
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/in-the-womb/3708/Overview64#tab-parasitic-wasp-gestation
The wasp also injects a hormone along with its larvae to stop the bugs immune system from atacking them. Then before they leave the Caterpillar they release a hormone which makes it guard and protect their cacoons.
caroltlw said:OK, I'm dragging out the big guns from the archive. Here's my all-time favorite macro shot:
IGG WARNING:
I have a few more favs, but a lot of them involve SPIDERS. If you are not IGGY, you can see some more bug pics including SPIDERS and SPIDERS eating stuff here: bug pics
What a fabulous picture. I love how he is covered in pollen.
AlabamaJack said:
Yeah, I usually remove the leaf they're on and stomp on them for a quick death. According to the NG site, they starve to death which I'm sure isn't fun but not as bad as being eaten alive. Probably.
Toleman said:
Awesome! I didn't know that the cocoons were coming out of the hornworm - so it's been harboring the baby wasps for a couple of weeks already.
abulldog said:
I kinda cheated on that. He was sitting there on a cold spring morning and not very mobile. I took a couple of quick pics, fearing he would fly away, and then offered him a flower to crawl on got him to 'pose' for me several times before he finally warmed up and left.