Caterpillar with white things on its back (eggs? parasites?)

[lilrobc1]

Cacoons I mean

[lilrobc1]

Those are wasp eggs, the catapillar was attacked by a parasitic wasp

[vxxlxD3MONxlxxv]

I remember one time i had a huge ass caterpiller and i forgot about the poor thing(it was in a jar) and it turned into a huge ass butterfly while i forgot about it!(it died because the jar wasn't even big enough for its wings! but it was one huge butterfly!!!

[OrganicGarden123]

CORRECTION: The white things on the Tomato Hornworm's back are COCOONS (not eggs) of the braconid wasp. The wasp lays its eggs INTO the caterpillar. The larvae eat the caterpillar's insides! Then the larvae burrow OUT through the skin and make WHITE COCOONS. (Then they hatch into wasps.)

[thebumhobo]

I have them to its from ur tomato plant and the white things r eggs what u seen is what it will b back to the eggs WHEN washtub eggs they but there eggs on them so then they start to come out they Will eat it. I hope that dose help.

[Jhh1771]

Thats just... Uh lets see... DISTURBINGLY DISGUSTING!!! Yes, that's right.

[OrganicGarden123]

@Jhh1771 Yes, nature can be incredibly beautiful and yet sometimes downright disgusting! Either way, I find it really cool to learn about and especially to see if firsthand. Enjoy!

[gypsylove25]

I have one in my backyard. At first, I did not see that it was a caterpiller. Then, I looked closer, and was taken back. I have never seen anything like this before. He is attached to one of my bushes. This one is not moving. I think he is dead. But, what to do with these wasps when they hatch? Just for reference, I am in the Southeastern United States.

[OrganicGarden123]

@gypsylove25 Let the wasps hatch. The wasp offspring will kill more tomato hornworms, thus sparing your tomatoes from being eaten by the hornworms. The wasps are on the farmer's side on this one.

[badspeller101]

O_O" I dont mind most bugs... but caterpillers really distub me..... O_O"!!!! i am afraid....

[harperwlms]

Yikes. Found this weird caterpillar with white things on it, and did a google to identify it. THIS IS IT! Thanks for posting this youtube video. WIll read a little more on it to see what to do (or not do) about the critter.

[VccTristenccV]

give me gimme gimmeeeeeee

[miszaitza]

wow. thank you for posting this video. I just found the same thing on my dads tomatoes and thought they were eggs.

[OrganicGarden123]

@miszaitza: Yeah, gardens are great for catching cool and surprising glimpses of nature. You were right.. they ARE eggs.... BUT they are not the eggs of the caterpillar... I learned that they are the eggs of the Braconid Wasp that is a parasite on this caterpillar. Neat stuff!

[SpikenAL]

Tomato Hornworm not good for Tomato Plants will eat the leaves, tops and fruit. Get it out :(

[OrganicGarden123]

@SpikenAL: Yes, the Tomato Hornworm can destroy the tomato plants, but this one has been preyed upon by Braconid wasps, which many folks consider to be beneficial parasites (killing lots of insects that would be eating my veggie garden). Thus, I think I'll let the Braconid wasps hatch and propogate.

[darkmage2009]

Actually one other comment :) ... I'll do the same thing I did on the other video. Youtube doesn't allow external links to be posted in comments. Buuuuut.... if you go to Google and past this into the search bar,

garden grapevine braconid wasp

I think you'll be very happy with the information that comes up in the very first hit in the search list. It is simply entitled "Braconid Wasp" but has PERFECT pictures for your situation. Check it out!

[darkmage2009]

(Response 2/2) Now on to the 'white things'. These are actually cocoons! The caterpillar was parasitized by a Braconid Wasp. Eggs were laid INSIDE this caterpillar via what is called an ovipositor (basically a large 'stinger-looking-thing' that pieces the flesh to lay eggs). The larva hatched and emerged. If you had found this earlier, it would have been covered in larva. The success of this wasp is ENCOURAGED! The hornworms are actually considered to be a pest, despite looking really neat.

[darkmage2009]

(Response 1/2) 100% unmistakable identification here, for sure. Your assumptions are both correct. This is a Tomato Hornworm. It is more of a nickname that has stuck over the decades. It is actually the caterpillar of the Five Spotted Sphinx. Use either of those names in Google Images and you'll have plenty of hits. Or go the scientific route and search for Manduca quinquemaculata.