Before anyone says anything, I am perfectly aware that Mother's Day has already come and gone, but why should we just set aside one day to pay tribute to the one individual that pretty much gives up everything to make sure that her offspring grow up to have the best life that they possibly can? That is why when I came across this extreme mother in particular I just had to share....
The Emerald Cockroach Wasp.....
(Photo Source: ferrebeekeeper.wordpress.com)
*Cue the horror movie music*
The emerald jewel wasp (Ampulex compressa), also known as the emerald cockroach wasp (and there's a reason for that which we'll get to in a minute) is a solitary species of wasp that is part of the family Ampulicidae.
Habitat Distribution
The wasp is native to the tropical regions of South Africa and the Pacific Islands. A. compressa was also purposely introduced to Hawaii by F.X Williams in 1941 as a method of biocontrol. Unfortunately this was unsuccessful thanks to the territorial tendencies of the wasp as well as the small scale in which they hunt.
Killer Nursery
Since the 40's it has been well known that the females of the species sting cockroaches twice delivering venom with these SPECIFIC species being the intended targets: Periplaneta americana, Periplaneta australasiae or Nauphoeta rhombifolia, effectively paralyzing its prey IN 2003 scientists discovered through the use of radioactive labeling proved that the wasp actually targets specific areas of the roach. The first sting is delivered to the thoracic ganglion (a specific cluster of nerve cells that control movement) in order to mildly paralyze the front legs of the intended victim. Once this is done, the victim is unable to escape which allows the wasp to deliver the second sting directly into the roach's brain in a precise spot that controls the roach's escape reflex. As a result of this the roach will then groom itself extensively before becoming extremely sluggish, failing to show normal escape responses. The wasp will then chew off half of the roach's antennae which scientists believe may allow them to either replenish fluids (hey, it takes a lot of energy building a nursery for your babies, right?) or maybe to control the venom as too little of it could allow the roach to recover and escape, yet too much would cause the roach to die. As it is too small to actually carry the roach anywhere the wasp will then lead the roach by the remaining part of its antennae to a burrow (kind of like walking a dog on a leash except...not) where it will then lay an egg about 2 mm long on the roach's abdomen. Mama wasp will then make her exit, barricading the burrow more so to keep predators out then to keep the roach in. The roach will then rest in the burrow until the egg hatches (about three days later) in which then the new larvae will live and feed for about 4-5 days off of a literally living nursery before it chews its way inside the roach's abdomen where it will, over a period of about 8 days slowly consume the roach's inner organs in a precise order in which the roach will actually STAY ALIVE, at least until it hits the pupae stage and forms a cocoon inside the roach's body. Eventually, the fully grown wasp emerges and is ready to begin its adult life.
Lifespan and Mating
An adult emerald cockroach wasp can live for several months. Actual mating usually only takes about 1 minute (Sound familiar to some of the ladies out there?) and only one mating is necessary for a female to be able to successfully take down dozens of roaches.
Extras
There are many species out there that use the method of paralyzing prey in order to use them as live food for their young, the emerald jewel wasp (and the other parisitoid wasps that are part of the same family. About 170 species in fact) in that it only targets the roach's escape responses. Research by scientists has actually shown that while survival instincts of the roach are drastically reduced (such as swimming or avoiding pain) for at least 72 hours, motor abilities like fight or flipping over are unimpaired.
********************
Now that I have caused everyone to run and hide under the blankets, for those of you that are brave enough to come out and possibly learn more about these particular insects can do so right here:
http://www.wired.com/2014/02/absurd-creature-of-the-week-jewel-wasp/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_cockroach_wasp
Also, Google helped me out a lot in searching for the information that I managed to find on these guys so if you feel like looking up these insects yourself Google them!
The emerald jewel wasp (Ampulex compressa), also known as the emerald cockroach wasp (and there's a reason for that which we'll get to in a minute) is a solitary species of wasp that is part of the family Ampulicidae.
Habitat Distribution
The wasp is native to the tropical regions of South Africa and the Pacific Islands. A. compressa was also purposely introduced to Hawaii by F.X Williams in 1941 as a method of biocontrol. Unfortunately this was unsuccessful thanks to the territorial tendencies of the wasp as well as the small scale in which they hunt.
Killer Nursery
Since the 40's it has been well known that the females of the species sting cockroaches twice delivering venom with these SPECIFIC species being the intended targets: Periplaneta americana, Periplaneta australasiae or Nauphoeta rhombifolia, effectively paralyzing its prey IN 2003 scientists discovered through the use of radioactive labeling proved that the wasp actually targets specific areas of the roach. The first sting is delivered to the thoracic ganglion (a specific cluster of nerve cells that control movement) in order to mildly paralyze the front legs of the intended victim. Once this is done, the victim is unable to escape which allows the wasp to deliver the second sting directly into the roach's brain in a precise spot that controls the roach's escape reflex. As a result of this the roach will then groom itself extensively before becoming extremely sluggish, failing to show normal escape responses. The wasp will then chew off half of the roach's antennae which scientists believe may allow them to either replenish fluids (hey, it takes a lot of energy building a nursery for your babies, right?) or maybe to control the venom as too little of it could allow the roach to recover and escape, yet too much would cause the roach to die. As it is too small to actually carry the roach anywhere the wasp will then lead the roach by the remaining part of its antennae to a burrow (kind of like walking a dog on a leash except...not) where it will then lay an egg about 2 mm long on the roach's abdomen. Mama wasp will then make her exit, barricading the burrow more so to keep predators out then to keep the roach in. The roach will then rest in the burrow until the egg hatches (about three days later) in which then the new larvae will live and feed for about 4-5 days off of a literally living nursery before it chews its way inside the roach's abdomen where it will, over a period of about 8 days slowly consume the roach's inner organs in a precise order in which the roach will actually STAY ALIVE, at least until it hits the pupae stage and forms a cocoon inside the roach's body. Eventually, the fully grown wasp emerges and is ready to begin its adult life.
Lifespan and Mating
An adult emerald cockroach wasp can live for several months. Actual mating usually only takes about 1 minute (Sound familiar to some of the ladies out there?) and only one mating is necessary for a female to be able to successfully take down dozens of roaches.
Extras
There are many species out there that use the method of paralyzing prey in order to use them as live food for their young, the emerald jewel wasp (and the other parisitoid wasps that are part of the same family. About 170 species in fact) in that it only targets the roach's escape responses. Research by scientists has actually shown that while survival instincts of the roach are drastically reduced (such as swimming or avoiding pain) for at least 72 hours, motor abilities like fight or flipping over are unimpaired.
********************
Now that I have caused everyone to run and hide under the blankets, for those of you that are brave enough to come out and possibly learn more about these particular insects can do so right here:
http://www.wired.com/2014/02/absurd-creature-of-the-week-jewel-wasp/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_cockroach_wasp
Also, Google helped me out a lot in searching for the information that I managed to find on these guys so if you feel like looking up these insects yourself Google them!
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