I am posting this pic for Growingpains. This is nature's way with dealing with pests. Here is a photo of a hornworm with a wasp's egg casings on it: Growing pains.
Good job, Sjoerd. I hope the pic doesn't make anyone sick. LOL The first time I saw a Hornworm covered with the larve, it honestly did nauseate me.
Well I have seen nature films on the telly with David Attenborough where these paracitic wasps and their hosts were featured. It is indeed grizzly. This is grizzly, but it can be grizzlier, I have seen. Anyway Frank--this is a posting not from me, but rather Growingpains.--she had a little technical problem with posting this particular picture, so I did it at her request. This hormworm probably can't even see the writing on the wall. Actually the writing is on HIM!
I love to find these in my garden. As soon as the Braconid wasp lays the eggs on the hornworm,the worm quits feeding and stays in the same spot until the wasps hatch,then the remains of the hornworm fall off and disappear. And this means that I am not having to use pesticides to protect my investment in the garden nor am I feeding anyone "poison" residue.
A very interesting host/predator battle in nature, one that benefits gardeners. I'm sure there are others of a similar nature but the outcome of this one is graphically obvious. Thank you Growingpains and Sjoerd. Jerry
God bless those little wasp eggs! Beautiful sight, almost as good as seeing a bird eating a grasshopper.
Natural preditors are the best way to keep the balance right in a garden. The photograph doesn't disgust me in the least. So much better than using chemicals. :-D
