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Archive 2016 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm

  
 
surfnron
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm


I know this photo has problems, but I think the subject matter overrides the technical faults - at least for me. The Tomato Hornworm was attacked by a parasitic wasp which laid it's eggs inside the hornworm.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: "Inside the host the egg hatches into a larva or larvae. The larva feed inside the host until ready to pupate; by then the host is generally either dead or moribund. Depending on its species, the parasitoid then may eat its way out of the host or remain in the more or less empty skin. In either case it then generally spins a cocoon and pupates. As adults, parasitoid wasps feed primarily on nectar from flowers."

As you can see from the open cocoons, most of the newly hatched adults have left their cocoons. I see the worms almost every year on my tomato plants, and every few years I find one or more that have suffered this fate.

This photo is the result of my first attempt at focus stacking photos, (12), in Photoshop CC.

Thanx for looking, and comment if you'd like ~ Ron



© surfnron 2016




Aug 20, 2016 at 09:47 PM
Lilki
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm


Why did I click? Why did I click??!! This provokes a strong emotional response and I'd say it's a successful catch. Sometimes subject matter overrides technicality. Nice job on the focus stack.

That's hideous, and I mean that in the best of ways.


Edited on Aug 21, 2016 at 01:45 AM · View previous versions



Aug 20, 2016 at 10:35 PM
LordV
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm


Wonderful capture Ron, stack worked well !
Brian v.



Aug 21, 2016 at 01:07 AM
e6filmuser
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm


A successful stack, Ron.

It seems likely that the parasite is the braconid Cotesia. It has an interesting lifestyle.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotesia_congregata (only copy & paste works).

Harold



Aug 21, 2016 at 03:37 AM
psharvic
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm


Yes, too interesting to pass up. The stacking worked well, Ron.


Aug 21, 2016 at 08:18 AM
surfnron
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm


Lilki wrote:
Why did I click? Why did I click??!! This provokes a strong emotional response and I'd say it's a successful catch. Sometimes subject matter overrides technicality. Nice job on the focus stack.

That's hideous, and I mean that in the best of ways.


Thanx Lilki. It was a neat experience.

---------------------------------------------

LordV wrote:
Wonderful capture Ron, stack worked well !
Brian v.


Thanx Brian. This was handheld and done in Photoshop.

---------------------------------------------

e6filmuser wrote:
A successful stack, Ron.

It seems likely that the parasite is the braconid Cotesia. It has an interesting lifestyle.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotesia_congregata (only copy & paste works).

Harold


Thanx for the info Harold.

---------------------------------------------

psharvic wrote:
Yes, too interesting to pass up. The stacking worked well, Ron.


Thanx Vic. I'm glad you found it interesting.

Ron




Aug 21, 2016 at 03:51 PM
sorpa
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm


Stacking is looking good.
I have a few tomatoes plants but I've never seen that worm.



Aug 21, 2016 at 05:52 PM
birdied
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm


Oh my, how interesting and disturbing at the same time Had the worm succumbed to this fate yet ?

Your stack looks great Ron.

Birdie



Aug 21, 2016 at 06:17 PM
louie champan
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm


Excellent background story Ron and nothing much wrong with the photo either and good job on the stacking.


Aug 21, 2016 at 06:28 PM
Karl Witt
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm


All that is darn amazing! And so is your image Those are big meaty caterpillars, enough to feed all those guests and them some. This one still looks as if it is surviving all the baggage.

Great work Ron and yuck too

Karl



Aug 21, 2016 at 07:36 PM
dalite
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm


I wish they would come visit my tomato plants (although no hornworms at this time)


Aug 21, 2016 at 11:44 PM
surfnron
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm


sorpa wrote:
Stacking is looking good.
I have a few tomatoes plants but I've never seen that worm.


Thanx Soren. I hope you never see them - you may be too far north for them.

---------------------------------------------

birdied wrote:
Oh my, how interesting and disturbing at the same time Had the worm succumbed to this fate yet ?

Your stack looks great Ron.

Birdie


Thanx Birdie. I can't tell if it is dead or not, but it hasn't moved since I first found it.

---------------------------------------------

louie champan wrote:
Excellent background story Ron and nothing much wrong with the photo either and good job on the stacking.


Thanx Louie. I'm glad you found it interesting.

---------------------------------------------

Karl Witt wrote:
All that is darn amazing! And so is your image Those are big meaty caterpillars, enough to feed all those guests and them some. This one still looks as if it is surviving all the baggage.

Great work Ron and yuck too

Karl


Thanx Karl. Yuck is right. I think this shot is the stuff caterpillar horror movies are made from...

---------------------------------------------

dalite wrote:
I wish they would come visit my tomato plants (although no hornworms at this time)


I do hope you never see these hornworms Dennis.

Ron




Aug 22, 2016 at 07:08 AM
JSaun
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm


Fascinating encounter for sure. Nice photo as well.


Aug 22, 2016 at 03:09 PM
surfnron
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm


JSaun wrote:
Fascinating encounter for sure. Nice photo as well.


Thanx ~ Ron



Aug 24, 2016 at 07:01 AM
conebeam
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm


surfnron wrote:
I know this photo has problems, but I think the subject matter overrides the technical faults - at least for me. The Tomato Hornworm was attacked by a parasitic wasp which laid it's eggs inside the hornworm.

FROM WIKIPEDIA:
"Inside the host the egg hatches into a larva or larvae. The larva feed inside the host until ready to pupate; by then the host is generally either dead or moribund. Depending on its species, the parasitoid then may eat its way out of the host or remain in the more or less empty skin. In either case it then generally spins
...Show more

Hi Ron,

I love the picture. Wonderful. What a color combination! Not so sure about the subject :-)

~Mansur



Aug 24, 2016 at 08:56 AM
BeeBalm
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm


That's amazing Ron and
BB



Aug 24, 2016 at 09:19 AM
reko
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm


An excellent catch of nature at work Ron. Focus stack looks good.


Aug 24, 2016 at 09:59 AM
surfnron
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm


conebeam wrote:
Hi Ron,

I love the picture. Wonderful. What a color combination! Not so sure about the subject :-)

~Mansur


Thanx Mansur. I love the colors too.

---------------------------------------------

BeeBalm wrote:
That's amazing Ron and
BB


Thanx BB. I have found 4 or 5 more since I took that shot. All but one had been attacked.

---------------------------------------------

reko wrote:
An excellent catch of nature at work Ron. Focus stack looks good.


Thanx Robert. Now that I know how to do it, I will try focus stacking again.

Ron




Aug 25, 2016 at 07:01 PM
Dave_McGowen
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm


Interesting, very well done!

Dave



Aug 26, 2016 at 05:50 PM
Warkari
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Parasitized Tomato Hornworm




Lovely picture and an extraordinary story. Awesome!!

- Amit



Aug 26, 2016 at 07:02 PM
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