Tomato worm eaten by parasitic wasp larvae

After having this tomato worm as a "pet" for 2 days, it was consumed from the inside by parasitic wasp larvae. The wasp grubs shown in the video emerged within a one hour time period. If you look closely, you can see that they begin to spin cocoons immediately upon emerging. A mere two hours later, they resemble stationary grains of white rice.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• tomato worm
• hawk moth
• caterpillar
• hummingbird moth
• parasite
• wasp larvae

[gbowder]

Also, in response to wampaAWESOMEsauce below, we also were keeping the caterpillar as a pet, with the hopes that it would turn into a moth.  The eggs had been laid probably long before we even found the beast, so keeping it in a jar in no way could possibly protect it from getting the eggs inside them. Also, in order to turn into a moth, the caterpillar apparently needs to bury itself in the soil and over-winter in cold conditions. Not sure that we could replicate that by keeping it inside...

[gbowder]

Yes, that is correct. The wasp, which is incredibly tiny, and appears to us to be more like a teeny house fly, injects its eggs into the caterpillar. After they hatch many weeks later, the larva emerge from the skin of the caterpillar, and spin their cocoons right on it's skin.

[gbowder]

It's apparently quite a common way for the poor tomato worm to end. I did feel badly for it, but obviously there wasn't much I could do about it. Our middle schoolers were studying parasites. Thought it would be useful and interesting for science class. At the very least it's a form of organic pest control.

[RageOfTheTiger]

@gbowder I find it more interesting than anything else. I don't think a worm has much a capicity to suffer, though I'm sure it understands something isn't right.

[OrganicGarden123]

Cool video! I had misunderstood the sequence: I thought that the braconid was laid those white 'eggs' on the skin of the caterpillar/hornworm. But I now understand that the wasp lays the eggs into the INSIDE of the hornworm, and then AFTER the larvae eat its insides they come to the surface and spin cocoons, where they hang out until they hatch as wasps. Your video is awesome. Do I understand it correctly now?

[wampaAWESOMEsauce]

hopefully they dont have eggs inside of them

[wampaAWESOMEsauce]

i have 3 tomato worms that look like that one im keeping them until they hatch as moths so this doesnt happen

[Phoenix1664]

Well ive heard that most of the time the host doesnt die, but is consumed by a parasite virus left by the larvae. The host is actually minipulated by the viral infection in its brain, to think that its cause is to defend the larvae. So, inexplicably, it helps the larvae build its cocoon, then defends it from predators. Eventually, still slave to the brain warping virus, it starves to death.

[sipder45]

A real-life 'chestbuster' lol

[woodjj]

This is so awesome. I am so glad to see this. These things destroy all of our plants.