The "Crypt-Keeper Wasp"
If anyone fears mind-control or zombies, avoid the “crypt-keeper
wasp” at all costs. These terrifying parasitic insects control their victims, “crypt gall wasps”, by first assigning them a beneficial task, then devouring them. Once crypt gall wasps are done maturing and are ready to leave their
nests in trunks, they chew their way through the tough bark of a tree. In
some cases, the crypt-keeper wasp controls its host during this process.
Once the crypt gall wasp chews a hole, they get their head stuck before they break
through. The crypt-keeper wasp then eats its own way through the host and out of
the tree.
This horrific behavior earned this parasitic wasp the name, Euderus set. Set being the ancient Egyptian god of evil and chaos. The reasoning behind the gruesome behavior of the crypt-keeper wasp was discovered by Kelly Weinersmith, a parasitologist at Rice University in Houston. According to Weinersmith, a wasp was three times more likely to get stuck inside a tree and die when trying to create its own hole than to use a hole previously created by its host. Also, the nutritious benefits of consuming another wasp provided even higher rates of survival for this method of departure. Smart? Yes. Evolutionary beneficial? Yes. Disturbing? OH YES.
Image by: Ryan Ridenbaugh and Miles Zhang
Posted by Caitlin Lohr (2)
This is a very intriguing post! The crypt keeper wasps remind me of the zombie ant parasite Ophiocordyceps unilateralis. After it infects the host, it takes control of the ant's muscles and causes convulsions that make it fall from its nest in the trees to the forest floor. After the ant's death, the parasitic fungus sprouts from the ant's head to mature and spread its spores. Scary!
ReplyDeletePosted by Sierra Tyrol
When I researched this creature it did remind me of another one I have heard of before! That is definitely it. Such a terrifying phenomenon!
DeletePosted by Caitlin Lohr
As amazing as it is, this has to be one of the most disturbing things I've read recently. This reminded me of another parasite that I read about, which is some sort of fly that lays its eggs in the abdomens of bees. After it does this, the larvae start to mature, and the bee leaves the hive and starts to walk around in circles like a lost zombie.. Eventually it dies and the abdomen breaks open and all the little parasites can go turn more bees into zombies. Yay.
ReplyDeletePosted by Peter Makhoul
Oh wow, that's pretty scary as well! If you read what Sierra said before, I suppose this zombie-like behavior is more common than I thought! I suppose even though it is quite barbaric, it is a smart way to survive.
DeletePosted by Caitlin Lohr
Evolution is amazing and continues to blow my mind every time I learn about a new organism. Although it's gruesome and slightly disturbing, it is an extremely smart adaption for their species because now their chance of survival has increased. Maybe eventually their hosts will evolve ways to keep the mind-controlling parasites out of their bodies. I'm just curious, are its hosts always other wasps or just wood-boring insects?
ReplyDeletePosted by Jordan Milone
I was thinking the same thing, eventually one mutation should occur that makes the gall wasp incapable of being controlled and due to survival of the fittest, it should spread throughout the population! That would be amazing! And yes it appears hosts are always other wasps.
DeletePosted by Caitlin Lohr
The name definitely fits. As disturbing as it is to me, I do agree with Jordan. I think it's just incredible to see all the different methods of survival or reproduction in different life forms. It's amazing that something evolved to survive through such a specific parasitic relationship with a host. It sounds like the wasp only preys on the crypt gall wasps, and I think it's so neat that life can evolve such a exact relationship to another. It reminds me of the fungi that parasitize ants in almost the same way, but each type of fungus can only manipulate a specific species of ant. I do wonder how Weinersmith discovered this behavior, but I guess that's what I feel about a lot of scientific discoveries!
ReplyDeletePosted by Haley Huang, Group A
I agree that it is incredible to see such specific parasite/host relationships. I wasn't aware the fungus could only manipulate a specific species of ant. I wonder why that is. And yes, I also was curious how this tiny relationship hidden behind bark was discovered. I wonder how many crazy biological phenomenons we still don't know about!
DeletePosted by Caitlin Lohr