Backyard Nature: Wasp Larva at War with Tomato Hornworm

I caught a glimpse of this interesting little creature when the kids and I headed out the door this morning.

Dad identified him as tomato hornworm with braconid wasp larvae hanging from his back. Once I found out they were wasps, I was tempted to kill the larva. But dad convinced me that the wasps will keep my tomato patch hornworm free.

I just won’t tell Future Farmgirl, who was stung multiple times this summer by wasps at The Farm.

I’ve since learned that the wasps lay their eggs so that the larvae will incubate inside the hornworm, eventually destroying the tomato plant destroyer.

Impressive, yet disturbing, strategy. Yet another reason I am a Virtual Farmgirl.