Observation date: September 20, 2019
Submitted by: atrend467
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: I was delighted to find numerous tomato hookworms in my rooftop terrace garden on the 62nd floor in New York City. Didn't even care that they were destroying my tomato plants. Few days ago I noticed wasps have begun attacking them ( still trying to figure out why and how they flew so high and found these little guys) laying their larvae leading to an awful ending. I found this one who seemed unharmed and scooped him up and created a terrarium for him inside. Every day I've been picking off a fresh branch with an unripened tomato, which it usually eats half of. Not sure if it was required, but I put a small thin plate of distilled water which I refill every day. Today I noticed a few wasps still hanging around outsiside , so I named him Bugsy since I'm thinking best to keep him safely inside for a while. Now considering the best way to get it safely underground for the next stage of its life.
Status: Resident
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: October 27, 2021
Coordinator notes: Interesting story. It's unusual enough to find M. quinquemaculatus in NYC, much less its predators.
