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

Caterpillar with white parasites on its back. What are they? ANSWER: The white things on the Tomato Hornworm's back are cocoons of the braconid wasp. A wasp lays eggs on the caterpillar then the eggs hatch the young wasps eat the host caterpillar's insides. Then, when mature enough, they come out of the caterpillar's skin. This caterpillar is NOT having a good day! He's a goner, soon.

This Caterpillar (Tomato Hornworm) was on my tomato plant.
Northeaster United States, August 1, 2010.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Caterpillar
• back
• eggs
• white
• braconid
• wasp
• cocoons

[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.)

[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.

[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!

[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!!!

[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.

[badspeller101]

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