redteam
The Tree of Woe
I would really like to know exactly what is going on here. I have a good guess, but I'd like to know a species name to make sure.
I first noticed that orange thin-waisted wasp next to the plant because she was lugging around a giant, straight caterpillar. In fact, she looked like she was riding one of those inflatable banana things they pull behind motorboats. She would then drape that caterpillar on a plant (I first saw one do it on a piece of dried salad!) and then go about digging a hole or searching for more caterpillars.
Here's what I believe is going on:
The wasp stings the caterpillar and mostly immobilizes it while keeping it alive. These caterpillars weren't completely paralized - they could move and hang on to things, but just barely. They also stay very straight.
Then the wasp drags it away someplace. She lays the caterpillar on a plant to keep it handy and to disguise it from any birds that might want to take her prey. While the caterpillar is on the plant, she goes and digs a hole in the ground. When that hole is done, she places the caterpillar in there and lays her eggs in or on it. When the wasp larvae hatch, they have a ready meal to sustain them until they become wasps themselves.
I found a book on solitary wasps online that talked a lot about parasitism. Apparently many other wasps do what I have described with some added bonuses. Once the eggs have been laid and the caterpillar has been placed in the hole, another wasp comes around to replace those eggs with her own. How sneaky.
Anyway, eventually we saw about three caterpillars draped on this tiny little bush. Hexodus appropriately called it "The Tree of Woe". A perfect description - you can totally see them contemplating.
Does anyone know what kind of wasp this is? How about the caterpillar?
Information for the ID Please group:
This was taken in the Mojave desert about 30 miles Northbound on the 15 freeway from Barstow, California. This is actually on Rasor Road if you want to look on a map. The wasp was about one inch long and bright orange. My friend has another picture of this wasp here:
The Tree of Woe
I would really like to know exactly what is going on here. I have a good guess, but I'd like to know a species name to make sure.
I first noticed that orange thin-waisted wasp next to the plant because she was lugging around a giant, straight caterpillar. In fact, she looked like she was riding one of those inflatable banana things they pull behind motorboats. She would then drape that caterpillar on a plant (I first saw one do it on a piece of dried salad!) and then go about digging a hole or searching for more caterpillars.
Here's what I believe is going on:
The wasp stings the caterpillar and mostly immobilizes it while keeping it alive. These caterpillars weren't completely paralized - they could move and hang on to things, but just barely. They also stay very straight.
Then the wasp drags it away someplace. She lays the caterpillar on a plant to keep it handy and to disguise it from any birds that might want to take her prey. While the caterpillar is on the plant, she goes and digs a hole in the ground. When that hole is done, she places the caterpillar in there and lays her eggs in or on it. When the wasp larvae hatch, they have a ready meal to sustain them until they become wasps themselves.
I found a book on solitary wasps online that talked a lot about parasitism. Apparently many other wasps do what I have described with some added bonuses. Once the eggs have been laid and the caterpillar has been placed in the hole, another wasp comes around to replace those eggs with her own. How sneaky.
Anyway, eventually we saw about three caterpillars draped on this tiny little bush. Hexodus appropriately called it "The Tree of Woe". A perfect description - you can totally see them contemplating.
Does anyone know what kind of wasp this is? How about the caterpillar?
Information for the ID Please group:
This was taken in the Mojave desert about 30 miles Northbound on the 15 freeway from Barstow, California. This is actually on Rasor Road if you want to look on a map. The wasp was about one inch long and bright orange. My friend has another picture of this wasp here: