Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
1 Like  #1
Tomato Hornworm with parasitic wasp larvae...
Lens: DA 16-85mm Camera: KP Photo Location: Delray Beach, FL ISO: 280 Shutter Speed: 1/350s Aperture: F6.7 
Posted By: CBM, 01-14-2022, 08:17 PM

Not pleasant to think about, but here's what we are looking at: The female wasp lays her eggs under the skin of the horn worm, they hatch and feed on the worms innards while spinning a white cocoon externally, they hatch and fly away which weakens and kills off the horn worm in the process. So for those organic gardeners out there, this is a good thing! Tomato horn worms are really hungry and can devour a plant in short order, so the wasps are a natural pesticide. This horn worm was on one of our tomatillo's, and the advice from our local master gardener, was to leave it alone. The wasps are also pollinators so good for gardens, bad for horn worms! These wasps are in the Braconidae family...learn something new everyday!

Attached Images
View Picture EXIF
PENTAX KP  Photo 

Views: 228
01-15-2022, 06:37 AM   #2
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter




Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Conway, Arkansas
Posts: 14,736
Cool shot and information. Thanks for posting.
01-15-2022, 08:13 PM   #3
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter




Join Date: Nov 2019
Photos: Albums
Posts: 8,889
Very good capture of that hornworm and cocoons.
I've seen the damage those worms can work in just a day; haven't seen the wasp larvae.
Seem sad, but necessary, considering what those worms do!
Angky.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
camera, hatch, horn, photo, tomato, tomato hornworm, wasp, wasps, worm, worms
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Wasp is nursing its larvae. carabez Monthly Photo Contests 2 11-13-2020 01:29 AM
Nature Tomato Hornworm chibae Post Your Photos! 8 12-14-2019 05:23 PM
Nature Tomato Hornworm Workingdog Post Your Photos! 2 08-02-2014 05:22 PM
Nature Parasitic Plant Rense Post Your Photos! 2 05-12-2013 07:27 AM
Macro Tomato Hornworm bluestringer Post Your Photos! 5 06-21-2012 06:42 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:27 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top