A newly discovered parasitic wasp, found trapped in 99-million-year-old amber, has been seen to possess an unusual, Venus flytrap-like mechanism on its underside, and it has left researchers amazed. The Cretaceous period genus Sirenobethylus Charybdis used to employ this new mechanism to trap other insects, and these insects were made to inadvertently serve as accommodation for its brood.
A Discovery Beyond Imagination
Paleontologists who examined 16 specimens of the minute wasp unearthed in Myanmar made the astonishing discovery. The abdominal structure of the wasp is operable, such that it clings to other animals. It was this bizarre adaptation that got scientists comparing it to the Venus flytrap plant, which catches prey by trapping its leaves through a hinging mechanism.
A closer view of Sirenobethylus charybdis shows the Venus flytrap-like structure on the wasp’s abdomen. Qiong Wu
Lars Vilhelmsen, a co-author of the study and wasp expert at the Natural History Museum of Denmark, noted that the first sample seemed to have an air bubble, but after closer examination, it was discovered that it was part of the wasp. Subsequent research proved that the structure could be opened and closed, offering valuable information on how the wasp would have exploited it to capture potential hosts.
A Parasite’s Strategy
Instead of killing its victim, the scientists speculated that Sirenobethylus Charybdis probably employed the structure to deposit eggs into the captured insect. The insect would be released, and the larvae would grow parasitically, consuming the body of the host. This is comparable to the behavior of contemporary parasitoid wasps, such as cuckoo wasps, which deposit their eggs in other wasps’ nests, where their larvae consume the young of the host.
A closer view of Sirenobethylus Charybdis shows the Venus flytrap-like structure on the wasp’s abdomen. Qiong Wu
Amber fossils like this give a unique three-dimensional window to the past, taking a photograph of life on Earth during the Cretaceous period. The Sirenobethylus Charybdis adds to the increasing number of ancient insects whose adaptations were never thought possible, illustrating the enormous diversity and richness of life around the time of the dinosaurs.
Ethical Considerations and Further Research
Although the discovery is a groundbreaking one, it also highlights concerns regarding the ethical sourcing of amber. The specimens were bought and gifted to a research university, but since the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, some paleontologists have demanded a moratorium on research into amber from the country. Despite all this, the fossil remains an important find, with much to reveal about ancient parasitic relationships.
This incredible find is one of several that show how the ancient world contains secrets that surprise and continue to widen our knowledge of evolutionary history.
