Cute Wasp’s Deadly Attack

Summary

The jewel wasp may appear beautiful, but its egg-laying process is lethal. It targets a cockroach, injecting venom to control its movements. After verifying the venom's potency, the wasp lays an egg inside the cockroach and seals the entry point. When the egg hatches, the larvae feed on the cockroach from within before emerging. This fascinating yet deadly interaction highlights the wasp's unique and dangerous reproductive strategy.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The jewel wasp may look pretty, but its egg-laying method is lethal.
• 🕵️‍♀️ It begins by finding a cockroach as the host for its eggs.
• 💉 The wasp injects venom into the cockroach to control its movements.
• 🔬 The wasp inspects the cockroach’s antenna to ensure the right amount of venom.
• ⚖️ If too little venom is present, the cockroach might recover.
• 🥚 The wasp lays its egg inside the cockroach's body.
• 🧵 The wasp seals the hole where the egg was placed.
• 🐣 When the larvae hatches, it starts consuming the cockroach from within.
• 🍽️ The larvae feeds on the cockroach while it is still alive.
• 🦋 Eventually, the larvae emerges from the cockroach, completing its development.

Q & A

What is the jewel wasp known for in terms of its appearance?

The jewel wasp is known for looking visually appealing, or 'pretty,' despite its dangerous behavior.

What is the jewel wasp’s method of egg-laying?

The jewel wasp injects venom into a cockroach, controlling its movements, before laying its egg inside the cockroach's body.

Why does the wasp inject venom into the cockroach?

The wasp injects venom to control the cockroach's movements and prevent it from escaping or fighting back.

How does the wasp ensure it has injected the correct amount of venom?

The wasp inspects the cockroach's antenna to ensure that the appropriate amount of venom has been injected. If there is too little venom, the cockroach might recover.

What happens if too little venom is injected into the cockroach?

If too little venom is injected, the cockroach may recover from the venom and regain its mobility.

What does the wasp do after injecting the venom?

After injecting the venom, the wasp places an egg inside the cockroach’s body and closes the hole to seal it.

What happens when the jewel wasp’s egg hatches inside the cockroach?

When the egg hatches, the larvae start eating the cockroach from the inside out.

How does the larva eventually emerge from the cockroach?

The larva continues eating the cockroach from within until it grows and finally emerges from its host's body.

Why is the jewel wasp’s method of egg-laying considered deadly?

The method is deadly because it results in the eventual death of the cockroach, as the larvae consume it from the inside.

How does the jewel wasp ensure its offspring has a food source?

The wasp ensures its larvae will have a food source by paralyzing the cockroach with venom and laying its egg inside, allowing the larvae to feed on the cockroach after hatching.