'Alien-Like' Parasitic Wasp Discovered in the Amazon, Sucks Blood From Its Host Before Eating It From the Inside Out

More than 100 species were discovered by scientists in the Amazon, including a horrifying wasp with a giant head.

Terrifying Wasp Species

Scientists at Utah State University identified the new genus of wasps while surveying the National Reserve of Allpahuayo-Mishana in Peru. The newfound species, named Capitojoppa amazonica, got its genus name from the combination of "capito" in reference to its bulbous head, and a similar wasp genus "joppa".

Biologist Brandon Claridge led the long-term surveying process where he and his colleagues laid large, netted tent-like devices called malaise traps to capture flying insects in the understory of the rainforest. They collected an adult female with a giant almond-shaped head and tube-like organs used to lay eggs in its victims.

The eerie insect can grow up to 0.7 inch (1.7 centimeters) and is characterized by a large head and bright yellow body. It is known as a 'solitary endoparasitoid' which means that it lays a single egg inside the body of its host. Spiders, beetles, and caterpillars can fall prey to this predatory wasp.

Claridge reported that once the host is located and mounted, the female wasp will frantically stroke it with her antennae. If acceptable, it will deposit a single egg inside the host by piercing it with her tube-like, egg-laying organ called ovipositor.

After several days, the eggs will hatch and the larvae will eat the host from the inside out. These larvae will continue to develop inside the corpse of their host while being covered with a hard protective shell. From being pupae, they will only emerge once they have transformed into adult wasps.

The macabre behavior of Capitojoppa amazonica is not limited to feeding on its dead host. After stabbing their victims, the same wasps will suck their hemolymph or the blood like fluid found in insects. In some species, the females can even stab the victim with the ovipositor and feed without laying an egg, allowing them to gain nutrients for egg maturation.

Biodiversity at Allpahuayo-Mishana

The species biodiversity of many organisms is highest on Earth at Allpahuayo-Mishana. According to biodiversity research professor Ilari Sääksjärvi from the University of Turku, this Peruvian national park has an unprecedented abundance of species because of its complex geological history.

The region first caught the attention of scientists in the late 1980s when American botanist Alwyn Gentry found a small portion of the rainforest containing a large number of tree species growing in a single location. He conducted a study where he discovered almost 300 tree species within 2.5 acres (one hectare) of land.

Since 1998, Claridge and his team have been studying insect biodiversity in the same research areas. Their research findings reveal some of the highest number of insect species in the world. In fact, the deadly parasitic wasp Capitojoppa amazonica is just one of the 109 new species discovered by the team in this national reserve.

Unfortunately, the region is currently changing due to human activities. As a response to this, the biodiversity unit of the University of Turku expresses its commitment to investigate the impact of human activities in altering nature in the rainforest.