Emerald Cockroach Wasp (Ampulex compressa) adult female, leading American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)
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Emerald Cockroach Wasp (Ampulex compressa) adult female, leading American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)
Emerald Cockroach Wasp (Ampulex compressa) adult female, leading American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana) zombie by antenna to burrow, South Asia, Africa and Pacific Islands (controlled conditions)
FLPA images of Wildlife and nature
Media ID 9673031
© FLPA/Emanuele Biggi
American Ampulicidae Antenna Antennae Burrow Burrows Cockroach Cockroaches Egg Host Entomophagous Feeler Feelers Host Hosts Jewel Wasp Lead Leading Leads Parasite Parasites Parasitic Parasitising Parasitized Parasitizing Parastised Periplaneta Americana Pull Pulling Pulls Solitary Species Stung Unusual Victim Victims Wasp Wasps Weird Zombie Zombies Zombification Zombified Modified
Nature's Ultimate Puppet Master - The Emerald Cockroach Wasp and its Zombie Antenna Dance
EDITORS COMMENTS
. In this snapshot, we witness a bizarre yet fascinating phenomenon unfolding in the depths of South Asia, Africa, and the Pacific Islands. Meet the Emerald Cockroach Wasp, an adult female adorned with vibrant hues resembling a precious jewel. But don't let her beauty fool you; she possesses an uncanny ability to control American Cockroaches like marionettes. With her modified stinger primed for action, our cunning wasp leads her unsuspecting victim by its antenna towards an underground burrow. It's as if she has cast a spell on the poor cockroach! This peculiar behavior is not just some twisted game; it serves as a vital survival strategy for our crafty wasp. Once inside the burrow, the wasp will lay her eggs on the immobilized cockroach. As these tiny jewels hatch into hungry larvae, they will feast upon their living host until nothing but an empty shell remains – a true case of parasitic zombification! This extraordinary interaction between two vastly different creatures showcases nature's ingenuity at its finest. So next time you encounter a seemingly ordinary insect like a cockroach or wasp, remember that there may be more than meets the eye. After all, who knew that even invertebrates could engage in such mind-boggling antics?
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