Catania Kenneth C
Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Brain Behav Evol. 2025;100(1):1-10. doi: 10.1159/000540971. Epub 2024 Oct 4.
To reproduce, the parasitoid emerald jewel wasp (Ampulex compressa) envenomates an American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) and barricades it in a hole with an egg on the host's leg. The larval wasp feeds externally before entering the host and consuming internal organs before forming a cocoon inside the host carcass.
The vulnerability of jewel wasp larvae to predation by juvenile cockroaches was investigated, and data were recorded with time-lapse videography.
Cockroaches were found to be predators of parasitized hosts. When parasitized cockroaches were exposed to hungry cockroaches on days 0-8 of development, the developing larva was killed. Eggs were dislodged or consumed, larvae on the leg were eaten, and larvae inside the host were eaten along with the host. On day 9, 80% of the wasp larvae were killed and eaten along with the host. Conversely, on day 10, 90% of the larvae survived. On developmental day 11 or later, the wasp larva always survived, although the host carcass was consumed. Survival depended entirely on whether the cocoon had been completed.
The results highlight the vulnerability of larvae to predation and suggest the cocoon defends from insect mandibles. This may explain the unusual feeding behavior of the jewel wasp larvae, which eat the host with remarkable speed, tapping into the host respiratory system in the process, and consuming vital organs early, in contrast to many other parasitoids. Results are discussed in relation to larval wasp behavior, evolution, and development, and potential predators are considered.
To reproduce, the parasitoid emerald jewel wasp (Ampulex compressa) envenomates an American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) and barricades it in a hole with an egg on the host's leg. The larval wasp feeds externally before entering the host and consuming internal organs before forming a cocoon inside the host carcass.
The vulnerability of jewel wasp larvae to predation by juvenile cockroaches was investigated, and data were recorded with time-lapse videography.
Cockroaches were found to be predators of parasitized hosts. When parasitized cockroaches were exposed to hungry cockroaches on days 0-8 of development, the developing larva was killed. Eggs were dislodged or consumed, larvae on the leg were eaten, and larvae inside the host were eaten along with the host. On day 9, 80% of the wasp larvae were killed and eaten along with the host. Conversely, on day 10, 90% of the larvae survived. On developmental day 11 or later, the wasp larva always survived, although the host carcass was consumed. Survival depended entirely on whether the cocoon had been completed.
The results highlight the vulnerability of larvae to predation and suggest the cocoon defends from insect mandibles. This may explain the unusual feeding behavior of the jewel wasp larvae, which eat the host with remarkable speed, tapping into the host respiratory system in the process, and consuming vital organs early, in contrast to many other parasitoids. Results are discussed in relation to larval wasp behavior, evolution, and development, and potential predators are considered.
为了繁殖，寄生性的翠绿宝石黄蜂（Ampulex compressa）会给一只美洲蟑螂（Periplaneta americana）注射毒液，并将其封堵在一个洞里，在宿主的腿上产下一枚卵。黄蜂幼虫在进入宿主体内并吃掉内脏之前，会先在外部取食，然后在宿主尸体内部结茧。
研究了宝石黄蜂幼虫被幼年蟑螂捕食的脆弱性，并通过延时摄像记录数据。
发现蟑螂是被寄生宿主的捕食者。当被寄生的蟑螂在发育的第0至8天暴露于饥饿的蟑螂时，发育中的幼虫会被杀死。卵会被移除或吃掉，腿上的幼虫会被吃掉，宿主体内的幼虫会和宿主一起被吃掉。在第9天，80%的黄蜂幼虫会和宿主一起被杀死并吃掉。相反，在第10天，90%的幼虫存活下来。在发育的第11天或之后，黄蜂幼虫总是能存活下来，尽管宿主尸体会被吃掉。存活完全取决于茧是否已经形成。
结果突出了幼虫易被捕食的特点，并表明茧能抵御昆虫的下颚。这可能解释了宝石黄蜂幼虫不同寻常的取食行为，它们以惊人的速度吃掉宿主，在此过程中侵入宿主的呼吸系统，并早早地吃掉重要器官，这与许多其他寄生蜂不同。结合黄蜂幼虫的行为、进化和发育对结果进行了讨论，并考虑了潜在的捕食者。
为了繁殖，寄生性的翠绿宝石黄蜂（Ampulex compressa）会给一只美洲蟑螂（Periplaneta americana）注射毒液，并将其封堵在一个洞里，在宿主的腿上产下一枚卵。黄蜂幼虫在进入宿主体内并吃掉内脏之前，会先在外部取食，然后在宿主尸体内部结茧。
研究了宝石黄蜂幼虫被幼年蟑螂捕食的脆弱性，并通过延时摄像记录数据。
发现蟑螂是被寄生宿主的捕食者。当被寄生的蟑螂在发育的第0至8天暴露于饥饿的蟑螂时，发育中的幼虫会被杀死。卵会被移除或吃掉，腿上的幼虫会被吃掉，宿主体内的幼虫会和宿主一起被吃掉。在第9天，80%的黄蜂幼虫会和宿主一起被杀死并吃掉。相反，在第10天，90%的幼虫存活下来。在发育的第11天或之后，黄蜂幼虫总是能存活下来，尽管宿主尸体会被吃掉。存活完全取决于茧是否已经形成。
结果突出了幼虫易被捕食的特点，并表明茧能抵御昆虫的下颚。这可能解释了宝石黄蜂幼虫不同寻常的取食行为，它们以惊人的速度吃掉宿主，在此过程中侵入宿主的呼吸系统，并早早地吃掉重要器官，这与许多其他寄生蜂不同。结合黄蜂幼虫的行为、进化和发育对结果进行了讨论，并考虑了潜在的捕食者。
