r/HotPeppers • u/ObstacleAllusion • 4d ago

First time I've found one of these...

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And it makes me happy.

Usually it's just a worm and a denuded stalk.

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u/pkapeckopckldpepprz 9b | FL 4d ago

so does this still do damage with these things clinging on it?

4

u/ImpliedCheese 3d ago

It does not. If you see a caterpillar covered in what looks like dozens of small, white grains of rice, it has already been parasitized and is harmless to your plants. Source

3

u/ObstacleAllusion 4d ago

Not really sure... But I'd guess it will until the little aliens burst out of it.

1

u/Love_Without_Limits 1d ago

By the time you see the little white cocoons on the outside, the hornworm is lonnnng gone. His insides were devoured in order to grow the wasp larvae into pupae.