Insect rider. Description, features, species, lifestyle and habitat of the equestrian

Insect riders: general information

The description of these parasites is quite interesting. The diversity of insect forms is combined with the abundance of their varieties. The largest species reaches 5 cm in length, and the smallest – up to 0.5 mm. Riders have long antennae, their bodies are very thin. They are often black with gold and red patterns. Most pests have colorless wings, but wingless specimens can also be found. Females carry an ovipositor on the back side, which can even exceed the length of their body.

Wasp rider: photo of insect

The ichneumon wasp in Russia is represented by small-sized individuals, as can be seen if you look at a photo of the insect. The body length of the smallest representatives is 3 mm, and the largest individuals can reach 3 cm. Representatives of the genus live in the tropics, which have significantly larger body sizes. The color of insects also varies from a translucent shade to a rich black color.

Characteristic external features of the ichneumon wasp:

• long elongated abdomen;
• transparent wings of small thickness like those of a dragonfly;
• thin waist;
• a few species have a long tail.

Some members of the family lack wings and look more like ants.

Description of appearance

Absolutely all riders are small in size. Body length ranges from 3 mm to 3 cm. Large representatives live in countries with hot climates. The color differs among different species. Common features are an elongated abdomen, a thin waist, thin, transparent wings, which are more reminiscent of the flying accessories of a dragonfly. Some species have no wings at all; the rider wasp looks more like an ant. Another representative has a long tail.

A distinctive feature of the riders is the absence of a sting, solely as an attack weapon. Instead, it uses an ovipositor. But there are also secrets that release toxic substances. With its help, the wasp injects the parasite, paralyzes the potential victim, and then lays eggs. A photo of the ichneumon wasp is presented below. The most amazing creature is the wasp with a long tail.

Description and features

People for the most part do not like insects and treat them with arrogant disgust. Of course, compared to us, the highly developed inhabitants of the planet, at first glance they seem primitive, unpleasant, often annoying, and sometimes even downright disgusting. But still, the world of insects is a whole universe of amazing creatures worthy of the pen of a science fiction writer.

After all, each of these creatures has its own unique abilities. For example, the hero of our story, the insect rider, is endowed by nature with the interesting property of turning its own kind, that is, representatives of the class of insects and other arthropods, into real zombies. We have to find out how this happens and why riders need it.

Such creatures can be very small, barely noticeable, less than 1 mm in size. But there are also huge varieties in comparison with babies, reaching a length of up to 5 cm. In appearance, equestrians are very diverse. At a superficial glance at representatives of individual species, you can mistake them for ordinary beetles.

In fact, these are more likely wasps, and even look similar to them, but instead of a sting on the back, they have a very noticeable ovipositor, pointed at the end, often comparable in size, and sometimes even larger (in special cases 7.5 times ) of the insects themselves, but in some cases very tiny.

With the help of this organ, these creatures place eggs in the bodies of their victims, and only in this way are they able to exist, develop and continue their race. Ultimately, the life activity of equestrians most often turns out to be useful for humans.

Although, in fact, for arthropods they are very dangerous parasites, and therefore they are often called parasitic wasps. According to the systematization of living organisms, they belong to the stalked bellies. This order includes the same wasps, as well as bumblebees, bees, and ants. And therefore it turns out that these are the closest relatives of the riders.

The body of the described creatures is elongated in shape and is supported by six thin legs. These insects have a small head, equipped with long antennae extended forward like antennae.

These devices help them recognize their surroundings. The riders are hymenoptera , and therefore representatives of most species have membranous, elongated, transparent wings with a brown or grayish tint, mottled with veins. But there are also wingless varieties, which are very reminiscent of ants.

Other riders, due to the abundance of different colors inherent in them, are often confused with related bees, as well as with a number of other insects. Riders come in bright red, orange, spotted, and striped colors. But the most common body color is predominantly black, complemented by bright, different shades of transitions.

Mistaking ichneumon wasps for wasps, people are often frightened by their huge ovipositor, believing that it is a terrifying sting that is poisonous to humans. But this opinion is wrong. By the way, only females have this terrible organ, and the male half is naturally deprived of it, as well as, of course, the ability to lay eggs.

Lifestyle and habitat of long-tailed wasps

The predominant habitat of most of the 100 thousand species of ichneumon wasps present today is the tropics. In temperate latitudes (in Russia) only a few varieties can be found. What they all have in common is the laying of eggs or larvae on or directly into the body of caterpillars and other insects. Not everyone is capable of stinging.

Wasp wasps do not look too threatening, especially those found in Russia. Their size ranges from 3 mm to 3 cm in length, and the chance of meeting the largest representatives is extremely low due to their extreme rarity. All types have different colors: from translucent to rich black.

Wasp rider

For your information! The insect has 6 legs, an elongated abdomen ending in a sharp ovipositor, a thin waist, transparent or colored wings, most similar to the wings of a dragonfly. There are species of wasps without wings at all, very similar to ants. A wasp with a long tail looks interesting.

Riders do not have a sting. Instead, there is a long ovipositor. However, the insect is quite capable of causing harm, since a special poisonous secretion is released from the ovipositor. Having pierced the skin of the enemy with its sharp end, the wasp injects poison, which has a paralyzing effect, although it does not pose a danger to the life of the insect. All riders are parasites, which are divided into 3 groups:

• ectoparasites that attach eggs and larvae to the body surface of other arthropods;
• endoparasites that introduce eggs into the body of other insects, using paralyzing poison;
• superparasites that are capable of infecting their own kind.

Zombies among animals: wasp wasp, woodlice sucker and fungus that causes suicide in ants

Movies about zombies scare us because it is almost impossible to escape infection. The corpses with empty eyes and foaming saliva are somewhat reminiscent of those infected with the rabies virus. But this virus is actually a parasite that manipulates the host's behavior for its own purposes. It also causes aggression in the infected person in order to force him to spread the virus through bites. But not only viruses do this, but also quite tangible organisms - insects, fungi, worms and crustaceans.

Climb to explode

Caterpillars can be considered champions in the number of microorganisms and insects that control their minds.

The “zombie virus” is a baculovirus microorganism that sends caterpillars from Lancashire in north-west England to certain death. It blocks the caterpillars' natural aversion to sunlight, forcing them to climb to the tops of plants, where they quickly die. Moreover, the baculovirus literally explodes from the corpse of its host to enter the body of a new victim.

The virus infected the caterpillars of oak eggar, a common moth found in many heaths and grasslands across the British Isles. The discovery was made when scientists began to notice too often the skins of dead caterpillars hanging from the tops of bushes in the Winmarley Moss Nature Reserve in the city of Hastang.

Healthy caterpillar

Similar observations have been noted by scientists throughout the region. According to Dr Miller, who led the study into this strange phenomenon, it is completely unusual for these caterpillars to climb tall bushes and be exposed to the sun because the heather and blueberries they feed on are away from sunlight. Researchers have found that baculovirus alters insects' response to light early in infection. In later stages, the parasite turns its host into a zombie-like creature, forcing it to feed continuously before ascending to higher, more open areas. The virus actively reproduces in almost every cell of the caterpillar's body. When a caterpillar dies, it undergoes a natural decomposition process in which its exoskeleton disintegrates. Each part of the caterpillar contains a baculovirus.

Horse killing riders

Some species of parasitic wasps of the Glyptapaneteles species, which are also called “ichneumon wasps,” lay their eggs in the bodies of other insects, for example, in the caterpillars already described above. The parasitic wasp injects about 80 eggs into the host at a time, along with a poly-DNA virus and a small amount of poison, which paralyzes the caterpillar until the wasp lays eggs. The virus helps them suppress the host’s immune system so that it fully adapts to the function of growing larvae and does not turn into a pupa. After numerous studies, entomologists came to the conclusion that wasp toxins contain a special virus, or more precisely, nudivirus (virus-like particles - Hi-Tech), which helps wasps suppress the immune system of caterpillars. It is produced in the ovaries of a wasp.

Scientists believe that the genes that control the formation of these particles were acquired by the ancestors of wasps from a real virus, which was integrated into their genome 100 million years ago.

Caterpillar of the Thyrinteina leucocerae butterfly with Glyptapanteles pupae

The hatched larvae grow and develop inside the unfortunate victim, feeding on its lymph without injuring the internal organs. After which the caterpillars leave the body, attach themselves to a leaf nearby and pupate. But two or three larvae remain inside to control the caterpillar. Under such control, instead of continuing its development, it remains in place and selflessly protects foreign larvae from other insects. When young riders are born, she dies.

Darwin believed that the existence of organisms such as Glyptapanteles contradicted one of the central tenets of natural theology, which views the study of nature as a way to demonstrate the benevolence of God. He could not convince himself that God could create insects that feed on the bodies of living caterpillars.

Riders treat spiders no less horribly. If the arachnid is unlucky, it will become a carrier of the larva, and it will feed on its blood for two weeks. At the same time, the spider, suspecting nothing, will live its former life. But the time will come when the larva will need to pupate, and then it will inject a special neurotoxin into the spider’s brain, which will force it to weave an unusual web. When the job is complete, the larva will eat the spider and use the web to pupate.

A species of parasitic flatworm, Leucochloridium paradoxum, invades the snail and develops in its body. A larva emerges from the eggs and emerges from the eye tentacles of its victim in the form of a bright growth. A blind snail loses its vigilance and no longer hides from danger. Birds can easily spot prey thanks to these new, bright “eyes.” This is how Leucochloridium paradoxum achieves its goal - it enters a new organism, where it lays its eggs. Together with the droppings, they end up in the grass, where a new cycle of their life begins.

Bloodthirsty mushrooms

A species of entomopathogenic fungus, Ophiocordyceps unatellis, modifies the behavior of ants to ensure that their spores are distributed as widely as possible. Translated, the name of the parasite sounds like “one-sided Cordyceps.” This fungus enters the ant's body through the respiratory openings, where it begins to feed on soft tissues. The enslaved ant is forced to leave its nest for a more humid microclimate favorable to the growth of the fungus. The ant eventually climbs to the top of the low bush and bites into the stem with its jaws. Then the mushroom kills the unfortunate man and eats his body. Thanks to this, a few days after the ant's death, the fungus releases a fruiting body through the base of the ant's head, turning its corpse into a launch pad from which it can release its spores and infect new insects.

Stages of ant infection with the fungus Ophiocordyceps unatellis

A study published in 2021 showed that the commonly held belief that the fungus affects the ant's central nervous system is wrong. The brain of zombie ants remains untouched by the parasite, and O. unatellis is able to control the actions of its host by penetrating and surrounding muscle fibers throughout the ant's body. Essentially, it turns the infected ant into an external version of itself. Thus, zombie ants remain partly insects, but, on the other hand, become a fungus.

Other entomopathogenic fungi Entomophthora muscae, which means “fly killer” in Greek, enters the exoskeleton of flies through one of the many cracks in their “armor.” The first thing the mushroom does is grow into a specific area of ​​the brain that controls the behavior of the fly, causing it to land on a nearby surface and crawl as high as possible. Infected flies rise to a certain height, attach themselves to any plant and take a “death pose” with their belly up, optimal for dispersing spores. Eventually, the fungal cells infect the fly's entire body and it dies.

To make this discovery, Penn State scientist David Hughes assembled an international team of entomologists, geneticists, computer scientists and microbiologists. The goal of the study was to look at the cellular interactions between O. unatellis and Camponotus castaneus ants during a critical stage of the parasite's life cycle—the phase when the ant anchors itself to the bottom of a leaf with its powerful mandibles (jaws).

Using electron microscopes, the researchers created 3D models to determine the location, abundance and activity of the fungi inside the ants' bodies. The tissue pieces were sampled at 50 nm resolution, using a machine that could repeat the slicing and imaging process at 2,000 frames per minute over a 24-hour period. To analyze this huge amount of data, the researchers turned to artificial intelligence, and a machine learning algorithm learned to distinguish between fungal and ant cells. This allowed the researchers to determine how much of the insects' bodies could still be considered an ant and how many of them had already been transformed into a fungus. O. unatellis cells have spread throughout the ant's body, from the head and thorax to the abdomen and legs. Moreover, all these fungal cells were interconnected, creating a kind of collective biological network that controlled the behavior of the ants.

Typically in animals, behavior is controlled by the brain, which sends signals to the muscles, but the study showed that the parasite controls the host's behavior without entering the head like a puppeteer.

Corpse of an ant with mushrooms protruding from its body

The study showed that the fungus secretes tissue-specific metabolites and causes changes in host gene expression, as well as atrophy of the ant's lower jaw muscles. Altered host behavior is an extended phenotype of microbial parasite genes that is expressed through the host. But it is still unknown how the fungus achieves complete control over the behavior of its victim.

Cymothoa exigua is a unique parasite that not only eats parts of its host's body, but also completely replaces what it eats. The woodlouse penetrates the gills and settles into the body of the fish, the spotted pink snapper. She eats the tongue of her victim, and then begins to feed on mucus and, however, regularly “works” instead of the tongue. Currently, it is believed that Symothoa exigua does not pose a threat to humans. However, some researchers argue that there is still a risk of being bitten.

Woodlice, which replaced the fish's tongue

The woodlice that turns crabs into nannies

Sacculina is a parasitic arthropod from the crustacean subphylum. He really enjoys managing the crabs. Sacculina larvae are planktonic organisms that travel through salty seas and oceans. Four to five days after birth, females begin to develop a small chitinous shell (cyprisoid stage). From this moment on, the sacculina has only one goal - to quickly find a suitable crab, gain a foothold on it and calmly develop further. Most often, sacculina is attached to the claws.

There the larvae turn into a kind of living hypodermic syringe (the so-called “kentrogon”). He pierces the shell at the base of the crab's bristly hairs and introduces the next stage of the parasite, a microscopic blob called a vermigon, into the crab's blood and digestive tract. Essentially, sacculina injects itself in liquid form. After being introduced into the shell, its active growth stage begins. The shapeless lump of cells grows greatly and reaches a size of up to 3 cm. Sacculina sucks out all the nutrients from the crab, but does not kill it. The parasite turns him into an obedient zombie under complete control. Sacculina also destroys the crab's genitals, and also changes the hormonal levels of males to make them obedient and caring mothers.

Mechanism of crab infection with sacculina

The body of a fully mature sacculina is made up of parts called internodes, which look more like the roots of a plant than an animal. Its antennae spread throughout the crab's insides, and only part of the parasite is visible from the outside - the female reproductive organ, which protrudes from the abdomen. At this sac-like stage, sacculina becomes sexually mature. At the point of attachment to the abdomen, a tiny hole opens through which the male enters the sacculina, which looks like the female larva before inserting into the crab. It attaches itself to it and remains for the rest of the crab's life, producing sperm and fertilizing eggs daily. Moreover, each female sacculina has two entrance channels in which two males can live simultaneously.

Sacculina lays fertilized eggs where a healthy female crab would carry her own clutch. And the unfortunate crustacean takes care of her in the same way as she would take care of her offspring. A crab, zombified by sacculina, obediently cleans its clutch of algae and protects it from predators and other parasites. It is surprising that such crabs live longer than uninfected ones.

Some experts say the so-called chronic wasting disease, which affects deer and elk in 24 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces, could infect humans in the future like something out of a zombie apocalypse.

The virus itself affects the animal's brain, spinal cord and tissues, causing aggression, loss of concentration, drooling, lack of fear of people and lethargy. This phenomenon has become a topic of conversation lately as it continues to spread across North America. Most likely, this is just a mutated rabies virus, but the disease has not been fully studied.

Beautiful and deadly

Nature created the emerald wasp, which turns cockroaches into zombies. A female wasp mates only once in her life. After mating with dozens of fertilized eggs, the wasp searches for the cockroach using sight and sound and then attacks.

But cockroaches are six or more times larger than wasps, so the accuracy of the sting strikes is extremely important. The wasp stings the cockroach in the chest and injects gamma-aminobutyric acid with taurine and beta-alanine. GABA is a neurotransmitter that blocks the transmission of motor signals between nerves and, along with two other chemicals, temporarily paralyzes the cockroach's front legs.

Wasp and cockroach fight

She then injects a sting containing a toxin into two areas of the cockroach's brain, the ganglia. The wasp uses special sensory organs at the tip of its stinger to locate the exact areas of the cockroach ganglia to attack. Once the venom is activated, the victim's entire central nervous system becomes controlled as it blocks key signals to the brain. This causes the victim to lose the sense of self-preservation, so that the wasp, being too small to carry the cockroach, leads it, like a dog on a leash, to its nest, where it lays an egg in the insect's stomach and seals it inside, and then flies off to find a new victim.

After two days, the wasp egg hatches and the newborn larva begins to destroy the cockroach. The larvae feed on hemolymph, which contains nutrients equivalent to human blood. They also consume all the organs in the abdominal cavity while the cockroach is still alive. Once all the organs are eaten, the larva consumes the cockroach's nervous system and deposits an antimicrobial secretion on the inner walls of the cockroach's corpse. Over the next month, the larva turns into a pupa inside the cockroach's corpse and, reaching the next stage of development, breaks through its shell and climbs out.

Zombies are not just horror movie props; they are common in nature, whether we like it or not. There are many examples of mind control parasites that can attack the host's nervous system, enslaving their victims in the most twisted ways. Is it possible that these mechanisms will also apply to humans? We are also just a biological species, one in a million, so zombification can affect us too.

Habitat and lifestyle

Most species of ichneumon live in tropical climates. Only a few representatives are able to coexist in Russian latitudes: mimarommatids, mutilids, gallworms, chalcids, evanioid wasps, typhiids. Most often, the parasite can be found in places of high humidity: rivers, swamps, bets. In agriculture, proctotrupe parasites are used to control pests.

Long-tailed wasps are diurnal and at night they hide in the grass, under leaves and tree bark. They identify their prey by smell, sound and subtle vibrations in the air. The parasite is not aggressive, but during the breeding season it flies out to hunt.

This is interesting! Riders do not form nests and do not gather in one place as a whole family. After all, the female needs to constantly be in search of a potential victim and roam. The exception is pompilids (living in the USA), which settle in the ground near roads.

Life cycle and mechanism of influence on the victim

The ichneumon wasp is a solitary insect; it makes its nest directly in the ground or in plant stems or tree bark. Its lifespan, as a rule, is short: for females it is about a month, and for males it is no more than 10 days. In some species, the larvae can overwinter in the body of the prey host and pupate only in the spring.

For the most part, adults are not carnivores, that is, they do not feed on other insects; For some species, nectar serves as food. But the larvae can be considered true parasites, given how reproduction occurs.

Female wasps lay eggs on the bodies or larvae of ants, wasps, beetles, caterpillars, spiders and even scorpions, on which the hatching larvae feed. During the process of laying eggs, the female parasite sits on top of her victim, resembling a rider on a horse, which gives the name to this entire family.

This parasitic insect has an amazing sense of smell, which allows it to sense even through the thickness of tree bark whether there are beetle larvae there on which to lay eggs.

By laying their eggs on the body of the victim, the females inject it with a paralyzing poison, turning it into a “zombie”. It takes less than a day for about two dozen larvae to hatch on a victim, and only a few days for them to go through all stages of development.

Throughout this period, they feed on the body of their “master”, while maintaining the viability of his body; it dies from exhaustion only before the time comes for the larvae to pupate.

Peculiarities

The sizes of adult individuals range from 2 millimeters to 4 or more centimeters. The abdomen is elongated, in females it has a long ovipositor (sometimes up to 17 centimeters). The head antennae are also elongated. The wings of most representatives are well developed.

After mating, females lay eggs directly on the body of the future host. Sometimes in the body or near the prey insect. Some larvae are selective in choosing a host, while others parasitize various insects. The death of the host occurs before pupation, less often after spring awakening. The rider injects special viruses into the victim’s body to subdue the immune system. And at the same time he diligently provides himself with fresh food.

The viability of the host is preserved, even if only a tenth of the mass of its internal organs remains intact.

Food includes caterpillars, beetles, ants, and wasps. Less common are spiders and scorpions. There are species that parasitize tahini flies. This is the so-called secondary parasitism.

Adult equestrians are active at night and are very sensitive to air humidity. They prefer to settle near bodies of water. Here they can be found on flowering herbs. The population increases sharply during rainy summers.

The average lifespan of adults is from three to ten months (in the case of wintering in the adult stage).

Kinds

The species diversity of such parasites is truly enormous. There are more than a dozen superfamilies into which they are united. species of riders themselves amounts to hundreds of thousands. It is impossible to describe them all, so it is better to talk in general terms about some of the most common or distinctive groups of these insects.

Representatives of the chalcid superfamily are quite small, in some cases even microscopic in size. Some species are so tiny that they cannot be seen with the naked eye. And it’s not surprising, because the length of especially small ones does not exceed 0.2 mm.

Their color varies. But all varieties (it is assumed that there are about half a million of them in nature, although only 22,000 of them have been truly described by biologists) have one common feature: the structure of the wings, which have only two veins. From a scientific point of view, such creatures are interesting because they parasitize not only small representatives of the fauna, but also plants.

The chalcid superfamily is in turn divided into families, some of which will be listed below. It should be noted that they themselves include many varieties.

• Leucopids in color, black with yellow stripes and spots, and body shape with an elongated, convex abdomen, are very similar to wasps, which, by the way, they parasitize. Their antennae are short, but placed on a large head. Such creatures are quite noticeable to the eye, on average about 7 mm. Also parasitizing bees, these riders harm apiaries.

• On the contrary, aphelinids turn out to be very useful because they destroy aphids and scale insects. They rarely exceed 5 mm in size. These creatures have powerful jaws, a narrowed head, and small fringed wings.

• The agonids are comparable in size to the previous group. In males of certain species, underdevelopment of wings and one of the three pairs of legs is observed. These are plant parasites that place their eggs in figs.

• Trichogrammatids are millimeter-long babies. This group is very useful, as it destroys agricultural pests, in particular codling moths and cabbage moths, in addition – bedbugs, dragonflies, butterflies, and beetles.

• Aphelinus. This is the name of a genus of fairly large representatives from the aphelinid family. These creatures have a black color, in some cases with a yellow pattern. The sizes of such riders are on average centimeter. Due to their benefits for garden crops, these insects were deliberately brought to Europe from America. Destroy blood aphids and other pests. The single egg they lay in their prey turns it into a dried-out mummy as it grows.

• Plum seed eater, about 3 mm in size. Its body is green, its antennae and legs are yellow. The name itself suggests that such creatures are garden pests. In addition to plums, they infect the seeds of apple and pear trees.

• The plum beetle is a black insect with yellow legs, about 5 mm in size. Lays eggs in plums, apricots, cherries, and very often in cherry plums and almonds, thereby destroying them. The wings of these creatures have not even two, but one vein.

Now let's introduce some members of other superfamilies. Without a doubt, they are numerous and varied, like the entire world of insects. Most of these riders are useful. They help many plants and free the environment from pests.

• Rissa is a black ichneumon, but with yellow stripes on the abdomen, and has a huge ovipositor. This is a forest orderly that kills wood pests: horntails, beetles, longhorned beetles and others. It detects its victims by smell, and its larvae eat their internal organs.

• Panisk looks like a huge black mosquito with red legs. Protects grain crops by parasitizing their pests. In addition, it infects moth caterpillars with its eggs.

• The Ephialtes Emperor is a gigantic specimen of an equestrian, of course in comparison with its smaller relatives. Its body reaches a size of 3 cm, but the size of the ovipositor is even larger. He himself has an elongated dark red abdomen, a black body and red legs. Destroys wood pests.

It is possible to systematize equestrians not only by species and families. As parasites, they are grouped according to how they infect their victims. Here it should be taken into account that it is not the adults who are afraid of the victims.

The attackers do not directly take part in the destruction, but only their eggs, which develop inside and outside the so-called hosts and feed on them. And therefore we can distinguish the following groups of riders, without exception, all species of which are parasites:

• ectoparasites attach their clutches to the outside of the victim’s body or simply leave them close to its eggs, and infect mainly pests hiding deep inside trees and fruits;
• endoparasites make their clutches in the internal tissues of the victim, their larvae develop longer than those of the previous group, but as they grow, they most often leave only an external, surrounding void, shell with the hosts; all the insides are eaten.

Harm and benefit

By attacking pests of trees and plants, riders provide significant assistance in their extermination. Some species of these beneficial insects are even protected by the state as valuable helpers. They control the number of harmful insects, thereby establishing balance in nature.

Thanks to the work and active participation of parasitic riders in the destruction of harmful insects, agricultural workers and ordinary plot owners can reduce the use of toxic substances and chemicals in their beds. This has a positive effect on the quality of the harvest and the environmental situation.

Often riders can be found in warehouses of grain and bulk products. There they look for their victims - barn worms and food moths. In rare cases, if they fail, they can lay eggs in food products, which will lead to damage to the goods and damage to humans. But, given the number of pests destroyed, minor sabotage on the part of the parasitic rider will not spoil its image in the eyes of people. Therefore, when you see these strange insects with a long sting-tail in your garden or garden, do not rush to destroy them.

What kind of wasps are found in Russia?

Crabronids (sand wasps)

Compared to the tropics, the Russian climate is poorly suited for most riders. And yet, in Russian latitudes they are also found, although less frequently. The most common types:

• Mimarommatids. A tenacious detachment, whose representatives live even in the subantarctic. They lay their eggs on the eggs of other arthropods.
• Mutillids (German wasps) are distinguished by their attractive appearance and bright colors. Over 4 thousand species of mutilids are found in nature, and in all of them the males are larger than the females. The size does not exceed 3 cm, and the body is covered with hard hairs. They lay eggs on wasps, bees and flies.
• Nutcrackers. Like relatives, they lay offspring on insects. Adults feed on plant juices.
• Proctocorpoid riders. An adult has a microscopic body length of a maximum of 5 mm. In agriculture they have found application as a means of biological protection against pests.
• Chalcides. One of the most numerous orders, which includes up to 200 species. Its representatives are highly valued in agriculture because they destroy those insects that pose a threat to pollinators.
• Evanioid wasps. They differ in their special body structure. Their abdomen is raised from the chest. They leave offspring on other types of wasps, on cockroaches and sawflies, for which they have gained fame as protectors of the forest.
• Typhia. About 20 species are found in Europe, and another 30 in Russia and the CIS countries. The body length of an adult does not exceed 1 cm. They usually have a black body color and brown wings. They prefer to lay eggs on beetles: dung beetles, May beetles and others. A rare case of symbiosis, since the victim does not die immediately, but continues to coexist with the wasp larva.

Japanese hornet

For your information! In the United States, the most common species is pompilidae (road wasps), which live in nests that are built in the ground, often along roadsides. They lay their eggs mainly on large spiders. In total there are about 4900 species of pompilids.

Crabronids (sand wasps) are common in Europe, over 600 species in total, but in total there are about 8 thousand varieties known, found throughout the planet. They usually make holes in the sand, where larvae are raised in nests. Food (bees, other wasps, other hymenoptera) is delivered to them by adult individuals, paralyzing the victims with their poison.

The remaining very numerous families of ichneumon wasps prefer the hot and humid climate of the tropics and subtropics. In the relict forests of the Amazon you can find unique insects up to 8 cm in length. It is noteworthy that scientists still continue to find new species, while a considerable number of unique insects are so rare that they can be classified as endangered.

Ichneumon wasps helped develop a tool for minimally invasive surgery

A. Sakes et al. / Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2020

Engineers from the Netherlands have developed a prototype tool designed for minimally invasive removal of biological tissue from the body. The device imitates the work of the ovipositor of ichneumon ichneumons and consists of six steel blades arranged in a ring shape inside a hollow metal tube. By performing sequential reciprocating movements, the instrument blades can move tissue samples along the cavity due to frictional forces. Although the transport speed is slower than the common pressure differential suction method, the new method will allow the removal of deep tissue without the risk of entrapment and damage to surrounding areas. A device based on this method will allow biopsies and minimally invasive surgeries to remove tumors, blood clots and diseased tissue from deep areas more efficiently in the future, according to an article published in the journal Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

.

Often in medicine there is a need to extract and transport tissue from the human body - for example, when performing a biopsy, as well as to remove tumors, infected areas or blood clots. To perform such tasks in minimally invasive surgery today, an aspiration method based on pressure difference is often used. However, this method loses its effectiveness when working with tissues located deep in the body, which is associated with difficulties in creating a sufficient pressure difference in a thin and long flexible tube. In addition, there is a risk of contamination of transported samples by surrounding tissue or fluids due to indiscriminate suction, or damage to healthy tissue during the removal process.

Dutch engineers from the Delft University of Technology, led by Aimée Sakes, have developed a prototype device for transporting deep biological tissues. It was based on a principle that imitates the work of the ovipositor of ichneumon fly, the organ with which these insects lay eggs in the prey insect. The larvae that then appear use the host's body for their protection and nutrition.

The ichneumon's ovipositor is tubular in shape and consists of three longitudinal valves, which are connected by grooves and projections, which allows them to slide independently relative to each other. Thanks to this, the ovipositor can penetrate into the substrate without applying excessive external pressure, only due to the difference in friction forces during alternate displacement of the valves. The same mechanism is used to move eggs along the hollow tube of the ovipositor.

Scheme of operation of the ichneumon ichneumon ovipositor

A. Sakes et al. / Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2020

Share

Scheme of operation of a device for transporting biological tissues

A. Sakes et al. / Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2020

Share

Prototype disassembled and assembled

A. Sakes et al. / Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2020

Share

Using this principle, engineers have created a prototype transport system for biological tissues, capable of inserting and moving small volumes of them. The device consists of six semi-cylindrical stainless steel blades of the same size and shape, held together by a 7mm diameter brass tube to form a hollow transport channel. In this case, each blade can slide independently relative to its neighbors. To move them, an electric motor is used, which, using a mechanism in the form of a drum with a curved groove, sequentially acts on the blades through a system of sliders and adapter rods attached to them.

To move a biological tissue sample located in the transport cavity, it is necessary to sequentially shift the blades relative to each other. When moving one blade and the remaining five stationary, the friction force between the tissue sample and the stationary blades is five times greater than the friction force between the sample and the moving blade. Thus, using the difference in frictional forces between the stationary blades and the blades moving back and forth and the moving tissue sample, the sample can be forced to move in the desired direction. The authors of the development neglected the effect of gravity on the samples due to their low weight.

To study the capabilities of the system, engineers conducted a series of tests in which efficiency was assessed according to three parameters: the transportation coefficient, which shows how much mass of substance the mechanism is capable of moving per unit of time, the transportation efficiency, which characterizes the actual speed of movement of the tissue sample in the cavity, taking into account its possible slippage relative to to the ideal design case, as well as reliability, defined as the fact of delivery of the sample from one end of the tube to the other. As model objects simulating body tissues with different elasticity, engineers used aqueous solutions containing different mass fractions of gelatin (from six to twelve percent) and minced meat. In addition, two types of blade sequences were used. In the first, one of the blades moves forward while the other five move in the opposite direction, and in the second sequence, six blades are divided in pairs into three groups, one of which moves forward while the other two groups move back.

As a result, the device turned out to be most effective in operating mode with the blades moving forward one at a time when moving a nine percent gelatin solution with an average transport coefficient of 4.21 milligrams per second. This value is almost a hundred times less than that of systems based on aspiration. However, despite this, as the developers note, a device using the new method will have an advantage when working in environments that require careful handling, such as the brain or spine, as well as when transporting solid samples through liquid media. In addition, the value of the transportation coefficient can be increased by increasing the rotation speed of the electric motor (in this work it was only 46 revolutions per minute), applying an additional microrelief to the inner surface of the transport channel and increasing the stroke length of the blades. Among future improvements, the authors of the work name further miniaturization of the device and the use of flexible materials.

Previously, we talked about Chinese engineers who designed a magnetic field-controlled microrobot capable of carrying living cells and delivering them to the desired area of ​​the body.

Andrey Fokin

Reproduction and lifespan

Having reached adulthood, riders do not live long, usually no more than three months. And only in cases when, during the period of completion of formation, they are caught by cold weather, they go into forced wintering, and in the spring they complete their life cycle and die. In this case, their lifespan can be up to ten months. Each species approaches reproduction individually.

After mating, the female ephialtes ichneumon has to look for a suitable longhorned beetle larva in the bark of a tree. To do this, she runs along the trunk and taps everywhere with her antennae. Based on this sound, it detects the location of the object.

Next, she drills into the wood with her ovipositor, standing on her hind legs, spinning it like a top. This work lasts at least two hours. When it reaches the larva hidden in the trunk, the parasite places a single egg inside it.

The number of eggs of small species from the braconid family reaches 20 pieces. They paralyze the caterpillars, which are their main carriers, with poison. Not even a day passes after the attack before the larvae appear.

They complete all stages of formation in five days, and pupation lasts another four days. But developing rapidly, such creatures live extremely short lives: males - no more than 10 days, and the female half - only a month.

Large braconids can infect ladybugs by placing an egg inside. In this case, facial development occurs more slowly, sometimes more than three weeks. It feeds on the connective and fatty tissues of the cow.

And at a certain time it leaves the body, but not the victim. In this case, the larva gnaws the motor nerves and paralyzes the cow. Then a cocoon is formed under it. Thus, about a week passes in the pupal stage, and then the tormentor leaves forever for adulthood.

Nutrition and reproduction

Most adult individuals feed on plant juice and nectar, sweet fruits, and grains. Some representatives do not need food at all. But larvae deposited in the body or on the skin of the victim are considered predators. Gluttonous worms need a lot of flesh to grow. Most often, other types of wasps, beetles, caterpillars, spiders or scorpions are attacked.

The development cycle of the parasite begins with mating. This period occurs in the middle of summer, when there is intense heat. A fertilized female looks for a suitable insect or its passages under the bark of a tree to lay eggs, thereby providing her future offspring with food. Riders differ in the method of parasitism:

• ectoparasites - eggs are laid on the abdomen of the victim, and the hatched larvae independently make their way inside the body;
• endoparasites - laying occurs immediately inside the insect, and the larvae begin to eat the flesh within a few hours after infection;
• superparasites - infect wasps of other varieties, while laying eggs inside and outside the body.

This is interesting! The wasp larvae eat the victim's flesh in a specific order. Thanks to this, the affected insect lives for a long time and dies only when the predatory worms pupate.

Up to 20 larvae can develop in one affected caterpillar or beetle. They feed on the flesh of the victim and then pupate. In tropical countries, the ichneumon ichneumon pupa turns into an adult within a week. In temperate climates, the insect overwinters and appears in the spring for further reproduction.

The process of laying eggs

Such parasites are treasure hunters by nature. Distinguished by their excellent sense of smell, they run along dried up tree posts and look for walled-up larvae of longhorned beetles and golden beetles under the bark. At times, riders (insects) fly around the trunk in a curve, looking for the place where a large beetle larva was buried under the bark. And it’s even difficult to imagine how they can feel the larva through such dense bark.

Having found an area, the parasite settles on the bark of a pine tree and begins to pierce it with its ovipositor. Therefore, in most ichneumon races the ovipositors are enormously long; in some species they are even 7.5 times longer than the body. This is a whole drilling device. At first, the insect removes the “case” in which its “installation” was stored to the side, then it stands “on tiptoe” and slowly screws a thin sting into the bark. Along with this, the parasite is forced to spin, screwing the ovipositor deeper.

The drilling operation sometimes lasts several hours. Thanks to its special structure, the thin ovipositor easily passes through the thick bark of a tree, piercing into a hidden prey larva at a depth of 2-3 cm. Then the egg passes through this ovipositor.

Nutrition

Adult megarhyssa perlata, which prefer to consume the nectar of flowers themselves, introduce their larvae into pests that breed in the bark of trees, depositing them in the passages made by these insects.

And ichneumon larvae , being extremely active in search of food, find their own prey, attaching themselves to the body of the victim. Most adult parasites do not eat the flesh of other insects, and some do not even eat anything at all. But they are looking for a suitable object to saturate their larvae.

Prey for parasites can include wasps, ants, beetles and caterpillars, and in some cases scorpions and spiders. Braconids are used to feed barn moths and leaf roller butterflies, but they can also harm people’s supplies, spoiling spices, confectionery, dried fruits, grain and flour.

A distinctive feature of riders from other insects

A distinctive feature of ichneumon is the presence of an ovipositor. This ovipositor is sharp, which is why in English-language literature ichneumon wasps are called parasitic wasps. With the help of a sharp ovipositor, riders lay eggs in the bodies of victims. The victims, as a rule, are larger insects: arthropods, butterfly caterpillars, beetle larvae and spiders.

The rider climbs onto the victim, as if he wants to ride it, hence the name, and inserts the eggs directly into the body of the living insect. The larvae develop inside the victim, gradually eat internal organs, develop and destroy their “incubator”.

Equestrian (Parasitica).

Groups of riders

There are several groups of riders, differing in their methods of parasitism:

• Ectoparasites most often infect victims living inside fruits or wood, they paralyze the victim and attach eggs to the outside;
• Endoparasites inject their eggs directly into the victim; in endoparasite larvae, development takes longer;
• Superparasites or parasite parasites infect other species of Hymenoptera and Diptera parasites.

The infraorder ichneumonids includes a huge number of species and subspecies of insects.

The benefits of equestrians in agriculture

In different species of ichneumon ichneumon, the number of eggs can range from 15 to 15 thousand. Moreover, it is not at all necessary that the offspring of wasps that lay a small number of eggs will be small, since several thousand larvae can hatch from one egg.

All species of wasps are parasites. At the same time, they lay their eggs in the bodies of the victims so that the victim remains alive and the larva feeds on it during its development. At first, the larva eats only fat and does not touch vital organs, and then proceeds to the rest.

The riders are slowly but surely destroying their “living incubator”

Numerous crop pests mainly become victims of riders. In this regard, people have long bred equestrians to protect vegetable gardens and fields. Most often, the egg-eating parasites Trichogramma are used for these purposes, which infect the eggs of cabbage moths, codling moths and cotton bollworms.

Types of parasites and their methods of infecting prey

The female uses a long ovipositor to lay her eggs inside the caterpillar. After this, the caterpillar remains alive; the “riding” of the rider will not immediately affect its condition.

The caterpillar will feed and grow, but it will no longer be able to turn into a butterfly. When the larvae hatch from the eggs, the caterpillar will become a “living table” for them. Over time, all that will remain is the skin. The caterpillars are most often parasitized by braconid riders.

Cocoons of braconid larvae parasitizing the body of a caterpillar.

Ichneumonid parasites lay their eggs in the bodies of larvae living under tree bark.

These riders have very long ovipositors, they can exceed their body length by 7 times. Interestingly, the ovipositor is very thin - no thicker than a hair, so it is extremely difficult for them to drill into wood; such work takes the rider several hours.

Of great interest is how the ephialtes rider drills into the bark of a tree. The female energetically runs along the tree and at the same time knocks on the trunk with her antennae, thus she looks for the larva of the longhorned beetle under the bark. When the female discovers the larva, she bends the ovipositor with a serrated end and begins to drill into the wood. During drilling, the ephialtes rises on its hind legs, which are longer than the front ones, higher and higher. When the ovipositor becomes vertical, the rider begins to spin around it like a top. So the female can spin around for about two hours until she lays an egg in the larva of the longhorned beetle.

Iridescent insects are beneficial insects for agriculture - they exterminate pests.

Wasp sting

All wasps bite painfully, but this does not apply to wasps. The insect is not distinguished by its aggressive disposition and is in no hurry to attack even if it is in danger. He tries with all his might to avoid a collision with a person, to hide from sight.

Wasp sting

On a note!

In a situation where you have to bite, the wasp stings, but does not lay eggs, it simply injects a dose of poison. The bite of the ichneumon ichneumon is not so painful; it is more reminiscent of an ant attack. Redness and slight swelling remain for some time, then itching appears. After a while everything goes away.

The wasp is not dangerous to humans, but particularly sensitive people may experience an allergic reaction of varying intensity. A large red spot, swelling, and additional rash appear at the site of the bite; in severe cases, deterioration in health is observed.

The bite of the ichneumon ichneumon is dangerous for many insects that are garden and vegetable pests. The settlement of a horsewoman on the territory of a garden is only welcomed by humans. Except in those cases when the imago settles in the apiary. Bees can be harmed by it.

Danger

The wasps are dangerous primarily for other arthropods, because parasitism leads to their death. This is the benefit of insects: they often fall prey to other pests that cause damage to human supplies, livestock, and agricultural crops. Equines, often being “super-parasites”, restrain the growth of their population.

But is the ichneumon wasp dangerous for humans? The fear of these insects is not unfounded. Their body, like that of wasps, produces poison, so the bites do not go away without leaving a trace. But riders do not attack people just like that and do not lay eggs under human skin: they attack solely for the purpose of self-defense.

The poison is especially dangerous for those who have individual intolerance to the substances included in its composition. In this case, the bite can provoke a dangerous condition - anaphylactic shock. Even in the absence of hypersensitivity to the ichneumon ichneumon venom, soreness and swelling appear on the skin, which lasts for an average of three days.

Prevention from attacks by wasp wasps - careful behavior. If an insect is spotted nearby, there is no need to try to get to know it better or, on the contrary, actively drive it away with your hands. When visiting forests and meadows near water bodies, it is better to wear tight-fitting clothing that covers the entire body.

What to do if bitten by an ichneumon wasp? The action plan is universal for attacks by any insects:

• wipe the microscopic wound with an antiseptic;
• if necessary, use local anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antiallergic agents;
• if the reaction is severe, antihistamines should be taken orally.

But usually an encounter with an ichneumon wasp passes without any unpleasant consequences.

Riders are insects that are peaceful towards humans and never choose people as objects for parasitism. Their benefit lies in reducing the number of other pests. The only danger is their poisonous bite, which causes discomfort.

With the common well-known black and yellow stinging insects, ichneumon wasps are related by belonging to the suborder Stem-bellied. In nature, these insects are very common, they are parasites and occupy a prominent place in the biocenosis of their native habitats.

Wasp wasp: is the adult dangerous?

An important question that interests people: “Does the ichneumon wasp cause harm or benefit to agriculture, and is it dangerous to humans?” A short answer can be presented in the form of the following theses:

• the insect is dangerous only for sensitive people with a high probability of an allergic reaction;
• the ichneumon wasp contributes to the destruction of garden and agricultural pests;
• the number of adults in the apiary should be limited, as they destroy bees.

All representatives of wasps bite painfully, but the species in question never attacks a person. The rider is not characterized by aggressive behavior; she always tries to avoid contact with people and disappear from their field of vision.

If the black wasp was forced to attack a person, it stings, squirting out a dose of poisonous substance. The bite feels like an ant's. Don't worry about the consequences. Adults do not use the human body to lay eggs. The ichneumon wasp may only pose a danger to sensitive people with a high likelihood of developing an allergic reaction. At the site of the bite, they develop a large red spot and swelling. In severe cases, there is a rash on the body and deterioration in health.

It is worth mentioning separately the role of the wasp for agricultural and garden crops. Adults often choose plant pests as victims. Therefore, their presence in the garden will only be beneficial. But their presence in the apiary should be limited; adults cause significant harm to bees.

How dangerous is an insect?

The ichneumon wasp is not dangerous to humans and never stings for no reason. The bite is practically painless and is easier to tolerate than an attack by a regular wasp. A slight redness remains on the skin. Also, do not be afraid of parasitism and the appearance of larvae under the skin. Humans are not hunted or food for the long-tailed parasite.

Gardeners and gardeners often use parasitic wasps to protect their gardens from other parasites. Predators attack caterpillars, leaf beetles and other sucking beetles that harm crops. Flowers are planted around the site to attract equestrians.

What to do if a wasp bites a person?

In some cases, hypersensitivity to the sting of a parasitic wasp wasp has been recorded. An allergic reaction occurs in young children and people with reduced immunity. To prevent anaphylactic shock or angioedema, it is recommended to provide first aid to the victim in a timely manner.

Symptoms and consequences

Most often, a wasp sting does not show up on the skin. But with a strong concentration of toxins that the insect injects during an attack, a slight redness appears. Itching and swelling may also occur. The most dangerous consequence of an encounter with a rider is considered to be scratching the wound. In this way, a person can independently introduce an infection. Symptoms of infection are swelling and tearing of the stung area, the formation of an abscess, and a rash.

If redness does not go away after 5 days, you should consult a doctor. To determine the diagnosis and prescribe treatment, the victim is given a referral for a scraping from the bite site, a general blood and urine test.

First aid

After a wasp attack, you should wipe the bite site with an antiseptic. Fukortsin, Miramistin, hydrogen peroxide or alcohol (vodka) are suitable for this. If pain occurs, you can take analgesics and antispasmodics. To prevent the development of swelling, redness and rashes, anti-inflammatory medications are needed.

Allergic reaction

An allergic reaction is rare because when a long-tailed wasp stings, it injects a minimal amount of toxin that is not dangerous to humans. But there is always a risk of developing severe swelling or hives. Young children need to be especially closely monitored. If signs of intolerance to poison appear, you should urgently take antihistamines (Suprastin, Loratadine, Zodak), and then seek help from a doctor.

Sources

• https://www.syl.ru/article/211515/new_naezdnik-nasekomoe-obschie-svedeniya-opisanie
• https://Dezoff.ru/nasekomye/osa-naezdnik/
• https://givnost.ru/naezdnik-nasekomoe-opisanie-osobennosti-vidy-obraz-zhizni-i-sreda-obitaniya-naezdnika/
• https://alternativa-mc.ru/infekcii-lechenie/osa-parazit-naezdnik.html
• https://GdeKlop.ru/osy-i-pchely/naezdnik-s-dlinnym-hvostom/
• https://klopkan.ru/osy/osa-naezdnik-foto-i-opisanie-opasna-li-dlya-cheloveka/
• https://kursi-floristiki.ru/klopy/osa-naezdnik.html
• https://givotniymir.ru/naezdnik-nasekomoe-obraz-zhizni-i-sreda-obitaniya-naezdnika/
• https://animalreader.ru/chto-za-nasekomyie-naezdniki-i-kak-oni-vyirashhivayut-potomstvo.html
• https://apest.ru/osy/vidy-os/osa-naezdnik/

[collapse]

What to do when bitten by a wasp rider

If, despite all precautions, the wasp bites a person, then you should act as follows:

• Wipe the bite site with an antiseptic.
• If necessary, take painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. People suffering from allergies need to take an antihistamine.
• In a severe case, when there are signs of deterioration, the victim is taken to the hospital.

However, meeting with individuals whose size is much larger than 3 cm can lead to dangerous consequences, which, according to official data, is practically impossible on the territory of Russia.

Note! Parasitic wasps are not specifically looking for people, because for them this is not an object of hunting, not food, so there is no point in attacking insects. A person is not an intermediate or any other carrier of wasp eggs and/or larvae. But the riders themselves are of considerable importance in the national economy, since they are one of the elements of the natural regulation of the number of other insects, including pests.

If the wasp sting mark does not go away for more than 5 days, you should consult a doctor. This was probably accompanied by some kind of infection, which is not excluded when encountering a wasp in nature. But this reaction is not typical, since the predominant size of insects found in Russia is much less than 3 cm, and accordingly, the bite mark is tiny. Therefore, there is no point in being afraid of these Hymenoptera.

Hello everyone, dear friends, today we will look at a very interesting insect: the “Rider Wasp”

!
So, I don’t see any point in languishing, let’s start
. Ammophila have many subspecies, quote from Wikipedia:

Temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere: America, Europe, Asia. There are 115 species in the Nearctic. Russia - more than 10 species, Belarus - 4 species.

Due to their elongated shape, these wasps can reach 20 mm, 2-centimeter ones are most common, but in nature a wasp has been noticed that has reached 38 millimeters! Their sting is located on the abdomen (surprising, right?), The abdomen is very mobile, the stalk greatly contributes to this.

Similar article - How to remove a splint on a child’s heel

I couldn’t find a better photo to demonstrate the mobility of the abdomen.

They are loners in life, and this is also manifested in their hunting, they meet only during the mating season, there they usually have orgies, but what? Singles!

HUNTING.

These wasps hunt mainly for caterpillars.

The poison spreads through the hemolymph

(something like blood in invertebrates), and affects only
the muscles
, the stung caterpillar remains completely paralyzed, but the caterpillar is alive, which the wasp takes advantage of.
The wasp drags the stung victim in its teeth, the victim does not resist in any way, the poison leaves the caterpillar completely motionless.

We have come to the point why the wasp is called a burrowing wasp. After it has stung the caterpillar, the wasp looks for a place for the caterpillar, and buries

it is in a specially prepared “grave”, and that’s all, only the wasp itself knows where its stash is, it can come at any time and eat its stash, essentially like a squirrel collecting nuts. The caterpillar remains much fresher when the wasp comes to eat it.

The wasp is digging a "grave".

Do you think this is the only way wasps exploit caterpillars? No! The way they reproduce will make you think of Alien. The female wasp seeks out the moth caterpillar Thyrinteina leucocerae and lays about 80 eggs directly into the body of an unsuspecting victim.

Insect larvae develop inside the host, feeding on the fluid circulating in its body. Then they gnaw their way out, attach themselves to a nearby branch or leaf, and create a cocoon around themselves.

As a rule, in such situations the owner dies immediately. But this is apparently not enough for wasps. And this is where the fun begins.

The still living caterpillar behaves as if the larvae are still controlling its behavior. Instead of continuing its peaceful existence (to go eat, for example), the moth remains in place and arches over the cocoon, protecting it from outside attacks.

In fact, the zombie caterpillar remains alive throughout the wasp's pupation stage. Almost simultaneously with the “hatching” of adult insects, an individual of Thyrinteina leucocerae dies.

“We hypothesize that a few laid wasp eggs sacrifice themselves to help everyone else survive,” Janssen tentatively concluded in a press release from the University of Amsterdam.

Dissection of dead caterpillars showed that one or two eggs remain in the body of moths, which, apparently, control the hosts during the pupation period of other individuals. This cannot yet be explained by any other reasons.

2:49, the moment when the larvae come out

Uh, okay, I'm finishing now, thank you for your attention, dear friends.

, Good luck!