Tulane Lab and Good-Byes

Before we departed Louisiana, our team had to move all of the 500 plus caterpillars that we collected to the Tulane University Lab. Here we are, setting up our rearing rack which comprises the caterpillar "zoo."

Each bag on the rack contains anywhere from one to five caterpillars. The rack is divided into sections for live caterpillars, pupating caterpillars, parasitized caterpillars and dead caterpillars.



The bags below contain parasitized caterpillars. One of the scientists took a parasitized caterpillar out of the bag and removed the parasitoid with the tweezers. Next it was put in an alcohol solution.

A second scientist then took the parasitoid and examined it under the microscope. Notice that his microscope has a camera attached to the top of it. This allows him to take pictures of his specimens and project their images onto the computer screen.

The scientist showed us a wasp parasitoid and a fly parasitoid. The specimen of the fly parasitoid was not in the best of shape. However, parasitoids can always be distinguished by their wings. Can you describe each parasitoid's wings? What do you think the differences are?

Wasp parasitoid

Fly parasitoid

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After we finished our work in the lab, it was time to say our good-byes. Our time together had been educational and memorable. We are all looking forward to getting back to our schools and continuing to share the valuable lessons regarding climate change and biodiversity that the caterpillars have taught us.

Earthwatch Institute, Hunting for Caterpillars - Team 4, Oct.-Nov. 2008.

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New Orleans from above.