In Japan, a new species of wasp has been discovered that parasitizes aquatic organisms. Until now, researchers did not know exactly how these winged insects reach the creatures that live in the water. Now it turned out that they are able to swim.
Microgaster godzilla - this is the name of a new species of parasitic wasps, also called horsemen. An article on the namesake of the famous Japanese monster appeared in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research. These inconspicuous insects reproduce by laying eggs in other insects - beetles, butterflies, and aphids, as well as in their larvae. Then their offspring gradually kill the host and feed on its flesh.
Since the Microgaster godzilla parasitizes water caterpillars, it has developed an unusual property. The wasp has learned to swim. Until now, researchers did not know exactly how they manage to get to the creatures that live in the water.
It was only thanks to the author of the new scientific work, Jose-Fernandez Triane, that the issue was explored more extensively. When a researcher was observing caterpillars of the species Elophila turbinate that live in urban ponds in Japan, he stumbled upon something unusual. The entomologist collected several caterpillars and kept them in captivity, but only a few turned into butterflies. Representatives of this previously unknown wasp species emerged from several cocoons.
Fernandez-Triana and his colleagues took this opportunity and placed the parasitic wasps in separate containers. Then, they fed them, honey, for some time. After some time, the wasps were introduced one by one into the aquarium in which the caterpillars of Elophila turbata lived. The behavior of the parasites was recorded with a video camera. Then it was observed that after finding a water caterpillar, which usually hides in a partially submerged "house" of plant parts, the wasp scares it, forcing it to come out of the shelter into the water. It is at this point that the parasite dives after the victim and lays offspring in it.
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