re: Got stung by a red velvet ant today

quote:

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caterpillar was first parasitised by a wasp that laid eggs inside of it. Those eggs hatched, developed by feeding on the caterpillar (being sure to keep it alive long enough). When the time came the larvae chewed their way out of the caterpillar and spun individual cocoons on it. Then, the wasp you see came along and targeted the cocoons, laying it's own eggs inside of them. Its larvae then fed on the original wasp larvae, before hatching as a grown wasp. All if this hinges on the caterpillar staying alive long enough for the process to work.

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