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NEW YORK – In a remarkable discovery, scientists have identified a prehistoric wasp, potentially from the age of dinosaurs, possessing a unique trapping mechanism akin to a Venus flytrap. This ancient parasitic wasp, detailed in a new study, may have utilized its specialized body structure to capture prey millions of years ago.
Venus Flytrap-Like Trap on Ancient Wasp
The newly discovered parasitic wasp is characterized by an abdomen equipped with a series of hinged flaps adorned with delicate bristles. Lars Vilhelmsen, a co-author of the study from the Natural History Museum of Denmark, described the appendage as resembling “a small bear trap attached to its rear.”
Fossilized Discovery in Amber
Researchers analyzed over a dozen female wasps impeccably preserved within 99-million-year-old amber. These specimens originated from the Kachin region of northern Myanmar. The wasp’s distinctive flaps and tooth-like hairs bear a striking resemblance to the trapping mechanism of the carnivorous Venus flytrap plant. This plant swiftly closes its leaves to digest unsuspecting insects. However, the wasp’s structure led scientists to believe its trap was designed for restraint rather than crushing.
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Parasitic Strategy
The research team posits that the flytrap-like structure served to immobilize struggling insects. This would allow the wasp to deposit an egg onto the host, ensuring the developing wasp larva a food source as it consumed the host. This parasitic strategy is observed in various contemporary wasps, including cuckoo and bethylid wasps, which exploit other insects as hosts. However, the newly identified wasp stands out due to its extraordinary trapping flaps, a feature not seen in any other known wasp or insect.
Unique and Peculiar Insect
Lynn Kimsey, an entomologist from the University of California, Davis, who was not involved in the study, noted the distinctiveness of the find. “I’ve encountered numerous unusual insects, but this ranks as one of the most exceptionally peculiar specimens I’ve observed in recent times,” she commented.
Sirenobethylus charybdis: Named After Sea Monster
The scientists have named the new wasp species Sirenobethylus charybdis. The name partially references the Charybdis, a sea monster from Greek mythology renowned for creating powerful whirlpools by engulfing and expelling water.
Published in BMC Biology
The findings of this research were published in the journal BMC Biology. Collaborating institutions included Capital Normal University and the Beijing Xiachong Amber Museum in China.
Understanding Insect Evolution
The timeframe of the wasp’s extinction remains unknown. Studying extraordinary insects like Sirenobethylus charybdis provides valuable insights into the capabilities and diversity of insects throughout evolutionary history.
Exceptional Discoveries from the Past
Gabriel Melo, a wasp expert from the Federal University of Paraná in Brazil, who was not part of the study, highlighted the significance of such discoveries. “We often assume that the most fascinating discoveries are exclusive to the present day,” he stated. “However, opportunities like this reveal that numerous truly exceptional and unusual creatures existed in the past.”