A newly discovered parasitic wasp that lived among dinosaurs 99 million years ago has been found to have a unique, Venus flytrap-like structure on its abdomen. The wasp, named Sirenobethylus charybdis, used this mechanism to snare other creatures and force them to shelter its young.
Paleontologists studied 16 specimens of the tiny wasp preserved in amber from the Cretaceous period. The wasp’s abdominal structure is movable, with a lower flap that can be open or closed. Researchers believe it likely injected eggs into trapped bodies before releasing them, using the creature as an unwitting host for its young.
Similar behavior has been observed among living parasitoid wasp species. However, experts have raised questions about the wasp’s mechanism and its purpose. Phil Barden, an associate professor at New Jersey Institute of Technology, noted that while plausible, the flytrap hypothesis is “a bit speculative.”
Lars Vilhelmsen, a study coauthor and wasp expert, described the find as “something unique” and said it’s a 10 out of 10. The discovery adds to a growing list of insects from the same time period with unexpected adaptations.
Amber fossils offer a glimpse into the past, but some experts have raised concerns about their provenance due to recent conflicts in Myanmar.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/27/science/ancient-parasitic-wasp-amber/index.html