A Mystery in Our Garden

in nature •  6 years ago 

IMG_8443.jpg

leaf flourish.png

In the few years that we've kept an organic vegetable garden, I've learned to appreciate a few things: the miracle of seeds (a metaphor for what little life requires to perpetuate itself and create hope); the hard work and commitment needed to usher in new life; as well as the tenacity of that life once it took hold.

It was a conscious decision on our part not to use pesticides, and so we expected that part of the task of growing healthy food would entail keeping fending off creatures little and larger that wished to destroy or steal it. Having a high fence, that also extended underground, meant we kept deer, fox, raccoons, rabbits and groundhogs away. But, our vegetables were still vulnerable to birds, obviously, and insects.

Inspecting the leaves of a tomato plant, the other day, I couldn't make sense of the rice-like bits that seemed to be growing off it. Then, on closer examination, I realized the white bulbs were not growing on the plant, but off the back a worm or caterpillar. What a fascinating life-form, I thought, admiring its unusual geometric shapes. Maybe, those are its eggs, my (more practical) wife, @dianarpo, suggested.


IMG_8444.jpg


Preliminary research proved she was right, partly. Turns out those were eggs on the back of the caterpillar, but they did not belong to it. Rather, they were braconid wasp cocoons. Huh? Maybe, they are parasites, my canny wife piped in. Once, again, she was correct.


IMG_8445.jpg


IMG_8446.jpg


As I continued researching braconid wasps, I learned the somewhat startling definition of a new word: parasitoid. That poor caterpillar giving those dozens of larvae a free ride would, eventually, be killed by the parasites that it hosted!

Mysterious thing, Mother Nature, and ruthless. The lessons of the garden persist...


IMG_8447.jpg

leaf flourish.png

Authors get paid when people like you upvote their post.
If you enjoyed what you read here, create your account today and start earning FREE STEEM!
Sort Order:  

wow very informative. I have seen the horn worm before but never with the parasites on them. Great post!

Ah, a fellow gardener, who actually recognizes the mystery intruder -- I'm impressed! Glad you enjoyed this post :)

Ok that made me a little nauseous at first. But at least the wasps are beneficial? Did you let the little guy live?

Strange to say, @sunravelme, but I also found it a touch nauseous... like a disease or a growth or something... Didn't know that wasps are beneficial. Actually, it was our intention to get rid of the critter and the squatters (but, when next we looked, it was gone).

The wasps that will hatch don't sting and eat other insects that munch on your plants, from my very brief googling.

Very helpful to know; many thanks, for info. Hopefully, the 🐛 is also garden-friendly 😳

Parasitism is very well developed among human beings. People also often parasitize each other

Yes, I was thinking the same thing ;) I even wrote a short poem about it:

Artists are parasites—
their independence a myth
tolerated by countless hosts.