Wasp Deposits Parasitic Larvae Deep Inside Tree Trunk

This giant wasp's method of laying eggs will blow your mind!
**More info & videos below**

The giant ichneumon wasp, megarhyssa rixator, has an unusual method for laying eggs. Using her overly-long ovipositor to drill deep into a tree trunk, she deposits a single egg on to the surface of an immobilized wood wasp larva. Her egg turns into a larva, that will eat the paralyzed host...bit by bit.

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[benm]

"Injects her venom... This won't kill the larva but paralyzes it. Forever."

Oh well that's so much better

[cj]

"Yo bro, be careful"
"Bruh, I'm literally in the wood of a hard ass tree, how tf is a predator gonna kill me?"

[Coolxis]

Notice how Wasps are also doing this to other Wasp species.

They are assholes to prevent other assholes from being assholes by effectively outassholing them.

[polarablues]

When u realize it's a parasitic larvae feeding on a parasitic larvae

[shamanbrush]

Bees: Pollinate, only sting if provoked, help the environment.

Wasps: Cunts with wings.

[dialect]

As a child I got caught in the middle of an all out aerial battle between an ichneumon wasp (unsure of species) and a bunch of scorpion wasps (the shiny blue kind) living in a stump it was attempting to approach. I froze, out of my severe fear of wasps, yet was mesmerized as I became a landing/takeoff zone for them, like an aircraft carrier. Made me get interested in studying all the arthropods in my region. One of my favorite memories, despite my absolute dread at the time lol!

[_pudu]

Me thinking I'll be safe from wasp bites through a sweater "she can bore directly though the !?!!

[thornghoul]

When regular stingers wont do it anymore and you have to upgrade to a drill

[rexroyulada]

The larvae in the tree: "I'm very safe here inside this tree"

This wasp: "That's where you're wrong boy"

[Tiller.McC]

I miss 3 minutes ago when I didn’t know this existed.

[marcocaru]

PBS is stepping their game up thanks to viewers like you.

[abc-sexd]

Why is no one asking how the WASP knows where exactly the larvae is inside the tree? With precise precision?? Mind-boggling!!!!

[kanjiNaem]

"im coyote peterson and im about to have an egg deposited inside of me"

[PrinceTae]

*Many more reasons for me to stay in the house*

[maulid]

How didi it know exactly where the larva would be?

[dancingirish]

Found this video after my two boys discovered one of these in our backyard. We watched, mesmerized, while it laid it's eggs. What a wonderful creation!

[greeenjeeens]

I saw one of this one's relatives this spring boring into a dead oak. I ran to get a ladder and watch it, I've never been so enchanted in all my life. So elegant.
I found some overcrowded areas and ringbarked the weakest trees, hopefully in 5 years there can be even more of them!

[drewblr]

Im coyote peterson and im about to enter the sting stone.

[Mr.WellingtonVonDukeIII]

Is that your ovipositor or are you just happy to see me?

[nickolaid]

I observed this in person once and I had no idea what the wasp was doing. Freaked me out man. I'm so glad I found this video! Neat stuff