THE HOLLOWEEN SERIES - EATTEN ALIVE

The wasp ovipositor pierces the caterpillar.  The eggs are deposited and the would-be mother leaves.  The wasp eggs hatch.  The wasp larvae begin to feed on the caterpillar; eating it alive.  They grow together.  As the caterpillar gets, bigger so do the wasp larvae.  When fully developed, the wasp larvae will chew a hole in the caterpillar, wiggling their way to the surface and begin to make their cocoons.  The caterpillar has little life left.  Some caterpillars are driven mad; defending a stack of wasp cocoons from predators.  The wasps finish pupating.  The new adult brachonid wasps leave the cocoons.  The caterpillar never eats again.  The brachonid wasps begin the process anew.  Most parasites do not kill their hosts.  However, parasitoids only need their host for part of their life cycle; making the survival of the host an unnecessary hassle.