Insects and Spiders

Tersa Sphinx Caterpillar With Braconid Wasp Cocoons

I found this caterpillar on my pentas. This was my first time to see one that had been parasitized by a wasp. This caterpillar is still alive but it is doomed and the internal damage is already done. It will not live long enough to become a moth. But this is the natural circle of life.
Tersa Sphinx Caterpillar (Xylophanes tersa)
Hornworm Parasitoid Wasp (Cotesia congregata)
Pentas (Pentas sp)

Xylophanes tersaTersa Sphinx CaterpillarTersa Sphinxcaterpillarmimicfake eyesfake stinger5th instargarland texasbuginsectbrown morphclose upeye spotspentasoutside my windowPentas sp.Hornworm Parasitoid WaspCotesia congregataparasitoid waspwasp cocoonsparasitoid wasp cocoonscocoons