Unidentified fly larva that emerged from a luna moth pupa on 12 July 2001. (Click on image for larger picture). This larva, from a different caterpillar than the puparia in the next photograph, produced an identical puparium. A total of three larvae emerged from this pupa, 9 days after it pupated and 13-17 days after the fifth instar caterpillar was exposed to parasites in the field.

Unidentified fly puparia, plus a dead larva dissected from the puparium on the right. (Click on image for larger picture). The larva, completely dry and hollow, was dark at one end, had white granulations visible all over under the cuticle, and bristly spiracles. The three parasitoids emerged from the pupa of a luna moth that was put in the field as a fifth instar caterpillar. When the caterpillar was brought back into the lab, it had eggs on its head capsule. They were not photographed, but they may have resembled the eggs on the caterpillar in the next photographs.

Fourth instar luna moth caterpillar with unidentified parasite eggs on its head capsule. The caterpillar was exposed in the field 15-21 June 2001 and had the eggs on its head when collected. It was not killed by parasites: it pupated on 4 July and a healthy female moth was produced.

Fifth instar luna caterpillar exposed in the field 22-27 June 2001, collected with these eggs on its face and with melanic markings on several of its abdominal segments. Photograph was taken on 4 July. (Click on image for larger picture).
This caterpillar was multiply or superparasitized. On 5 July Shelly observed it under the microscope, and saw two kinds of larvae crawling on it: one larger larva inside dorsolaterally, three small larvae crawling on the outside, and four small larvae inside the caterpillar. Only one fly emerged from this caterpillar (puparium on 10 July, adult emerged on 21 July). Given ID number SKK015, it has been identified by Jeff Boettner as Lespesia aletiae.