Scientists have discovered a previously unknown species of wasp preserved in 99-million-year-old Kachin amber. The insect, named Sirenobethylus charybdis, has an abdomen resembling that of a Venus flytrap. Researchers believe this unique feature is used to capture prey and lay eggs inside the host’s body.
The wasp’s rear end, which resembles a grasping jaw, may have allowed it to restrain its hosts before injecting eggs into their bodies. The trigger hairs on the “grasper” would have likely been triggered by potential hosts, enabling the wasp to pounce upon them when they were within range.
While males are missing from the fossil record, researchers believe the apparatus may not be involved in mating. Instead, it could be used solely for egg-laying and capturing prey. This unique feature would set Sirenobethylus charybdis apart from other insect species, which often have more traditional methods of capture and restraint.
The discovery was published in BMC Biology and provides new insights into the evolution and behavior of ancient insects.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/venus-flytrap-wasp-99-million-year-old-amber-reveals-bizarre-new-species