I saw this unusual thing (well for me it was unusual as I saw it for the first time) in the backyard of Tree House Hideaway, a luxury jungle resort at Bandhavgarh. It was a caterpillar I was very familiar with. I had seen similar ones around many times, but it looked different this time. It’s usually black, but this fella had something like white-stripes on its back. When closely looked into, they turned out to be cocoons!
Naturalist Kshitij explained that this is called symbiotic association between two species. Symbiosis literally means living together and this kind of behavior is seen where either or both the species are benefitted in some way. But this case is of parasitism where the host suffers while the parasite is benefitted with food and/or shelter!
This poor caterpillar was chosen by most probably a wasp or similar ‘parasitoid’ to slowly die while raising-up its off-springs. The parasitoid injects eggs just under the skin of its victim. After hatching, the larvae feed inside the body of the caterpillar eating away its internal organs. When they mature they chew their way out and form silk cocoons still feeding on the poor caterpillar. Then they emerge out of the cocoons as they enter adult stage while the weakened caterpillar eventually dies.
Harsh sometimes but interesting are the ways in Mother Nature works!!
Photo courtesy: Tejashree, Pugdundee Safaris