What is it?

[dzyg]

I had a post about one of my crysalis having brown spots on it, well it got worse and when I went to take it out of the container a small brown cocoon like thing popped out of it. Two other crysalis in this same container ended up the same way, so far the fourth seems fine. Does anyone know what this little thing is? I am assuming some type of parasite thing that may now hatch out of it? I hope someone knows what this may be cause one of the cocoon like things may be somewhere on the floor of my house (long story).

Thanks, Donna

[Jim]

Short answer: Tachinid fly

Longer answer: http://www.monarchwatch.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=108

You can read more about this parasitoid (and view photos) in the July-November 2003 Updates at

http://www.monarchwatch.org/update/

[Teresa]

I had the same thing happen except it was a small white thing that popped out. It almost looked like a bleached out pill but. Any ideas what that was?

[Teresa]

Sorry, meant to say "pill bug"

[Jim]

I had the same thing happen except it was a small white thing that popped out. It almost looked like a bleached out pill bug. Any ideas what that was?

If you check out the references above you'll probably come to the conclusion that the white creature that popped out of your larva/pupa was a tachinid fly maggot (larva).



BTW - you can always go back and edit your posts to correct typos, etc. Just use the "Edit" button that appears at the right hand side of your message...go ahead, give it a try

[Teresa]

Thats it!!! Gross, but good to know. Is there a way to stop it? Thanks for the edit tip

[Jim]

The best way to protect developing larvae from predators and parasites is to find them early in development and enclose the plant they are feeding on with a tightly sealed mesh bag - we offer Insect Rearing Sleeves via the Monarch Watch Shop for just this purpose (or you can try to make your own):

Rearing Sleeve (item #113205)
Perfect for raising monarchs and other critters on plants indoors or out! These white mesh sleeves have a clear panel for observation, one full-length zipper that allows the sleeve to open flat, and long strings for sealing the ends around branches or tree-trunks. Sleeves may be zipped together to increase the diameter so as to enclose sections of tree trunks or other large objects. Sleeves are approximately 24"' x 27" (unzipped).



Hope this helps!

[Teresa]

I'd need about 50 of them. LOL

[Keith Petrosky]

I've seen loads of them pop out of eastern tent caterpillars. You could not even imagine how many cocoons were in my backyard! The slime is the grosest part I think, but they remind me of the Alien movies.

[Teresa]

I looks like i'm going to loose another one to this evil fly

[Keith Petrosky]

I didnt know they attacked monarchs too, I though it attacked only tent caterpillars and the gypsy moth?

[Pat]

Tachnid flies are considered beneficial insects because they parasitize many kinds of caterpillars, cutworms, other flies... we see them around sometimes because we plant QA's lace, dill, carrots, parsley etc for the black swallowtails and those plants are also tachnid fly attractors. However since we raise most of our butterflies from eggs we've collected around the yard, the tachnids can't usually get to the cats since they're usually in their plastic containers.