AVGWarhawk
11-29-18, 09:47 AM
https://www.cnet.com/news/scientists-discover-new-parasitic-wasp-that-creates-spider-zombies/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+cnet/NnTv+(CNET+River+RSS)
The species of spider, Anelosimus eximius, create elaborate bucket-like webs with thousands of its family members. It's deemed a "social spider" because it cooperates with other spiders of its communal home in sharing hunting, parenting and feeding duties.
That is, until a Zatypota parasitoid wasp lays an egg on its abdomen.
Once the wasp's deposited egg hatches, a larva emerges, attaching itself to the spider and feeding on it, sucking on the blood-like haemolymph to survive. At this point, the spider's behaviour changes and it becomes enslaved by the larva, moving away from its communal nest to create a cocoon-shaped web of its own.
The larva feeds on the spider until it dies, in the relative safety of the cocoon-shaped web its host just built before spinning its own cocoon and, eventually, emerging as a beautiful, regal wasp.
:o
https://www.cnet.com/news/scientists-discover-new-parasitic-wasp-that-creates-spider-zombies/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+cnet/NnTv+(CNET+River+RSS)
The species of spider, Anelosimus eximius, create elaborate bucket-like webs with thousands of its family members. It's deemed a "social spider" because it cooperates with other spiders of its communal home in sharing hunting, parenting and feeding duties.
That is, until a Zatypota parasitoid wasp lays an egg on its abdomen.
Once the wasp's deposited egg hatches, a larva emerges, attaching itself to the spider and feeding on it, sucking on the blood-like haemolymph to survive. At this point, the spider's behaviour changes and it becomes enslaved by the larva, moving away from its communal nest to create a cocoon-shaped web of its own.
The larva feeds on the spider until it dies, in the relative safety of the cocoon-shaped web its host just built before spinning its own cocoon and, eventually, emerging as a beautiful, regal wasp.
:o
https://www.cnet.com/news/scientists-discover-new-parasitic-wasp-that-creates-spider-zombies/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+cnet/NnTv+(CNET+River+RSS)