Crazy things in nature - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

07/01/2008 01:14:30 PM · #1

Yesterday I was outside when I saw a caterpillar. I decided to take some macro shots and the next thing I know little baby caterpillars started coming out of the sides of it. It was one of the craziest things I have captured in nature. Does anyone else have some crazy or interesting pictures they have taken in nature?

cynthiann

Nikon D810

07/01/2008 01:41:28 PM · #2

Cool photo!!

rox_rox

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

07/01/2008 02:03:21 PM · #3

Originally posted by battymaddie:

That's crazy looking and gruesome. They are not really caterpillars but are the larvae of a parasite (wasp, I believe). Here is a page about armyworm parasites.

Awesome shot, as are yours

cynthiann. Maybe I'll get around to editing and posting my series of my black swallowtail caterpillar moulting.

Techo

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

07/01/2008 02:07:17 PM · #4

I saw a bug documentary. I really good one called Life In The Underground, a 2 DVD disc set.

Parasitic wasps. They inject the caterpillar when in its the younger stages with it's eggs. So when they hatch they feed on the body. ick! just the idea sounds painful. brrr. Poor caterpillar, would've probably been a beautiful swallowtail? butterfly :(

edited:
rox, thanks for the link. So it's not a butterfly but an armyworm larvae. In the film I saw them wasps injected a caterpillar.

Message edited by author 2008-07-01 14:17:23.

Konica Minolta MF 85mm f/1.7

07/01/2008 02:07:53 PM · #5

That's crazy looking and gruesome. They are not really caterpillars but are the larvae of a parasite (wasp, I believe). Here is a page about armyworm parasites.

Thanks for the information...that site was very interesting too.....the fact that it's a parasite seems to make this pictures even more gross to me haha

briantammy

Olympus PEN E-P3

07/01/2008 02:11:38 PM · #6

Originally posted by battymaddie:

how long did you keep watching this? what happened after you took this shot?

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

07/01/2008 02:16:22 PM · #7

how long did you keep watching this? what happened after you took this shot?

Well this kept going for a while, if you look in the picture you can see stuff that looks like cotton...well eventually there was lots of that around the larvae and last I saw, the armyworm was hanging from that and looked to be dead...so not a happy ending.

Message edited by author 2008-07-01 20:57:43.

Bernard_Marx

Canon EOS-40D

07/02/2008 09:06:43 AM · #8

That's really interesting Madelyn.
I don't have anything that dramatic, but I thought the following shot was interesting. A wasp can be seen regurgitating and molding the substance used to hang the hive.

And here is a very low quality image of a most FUNKY spider

Message edited by author 2008-07-02 09:07:20.

rox_rox

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

07/02/2008 09:36:12 PM · #9

Originally posted by Techo:

You're welcome. Armyworms are caterpillars too. They just grow up to me moths. Well, not this particular one. I think it's time is up.

Jessi

Mamiya 645Pro TL

Mamiya 80mm f/2.8

07/02/2008 09:38:13 PM · #10

This is some kind of crazy plant vine thing...it's super cool!