‘Alien’ wasp injects eggs into caterpillars so larvae EAT way out 

Researchers from Australia have discovered a new species of wasp named ‘Xenomorph’ because of its similarities to the monster from the Alien movie franchise.

Dolichogenidea xenomorph injects its eggs into live caterpillars, and then the larvae slowly eat the other bug from the inside out.

When they’ve had their fill, they burst out of the caterpillar and grow into adult wasps –  before repeating the cycle all over again.

Researchers from Australia have discovered a new species of wasp named ‘Xenomorph’ because of its similarities to the monster from the Alien movie franchise

Xenomorph is one of three newly documented parasitoid wasp species – a kind of wasp that needs to kill their host to complete their life cycle.

‘Dolichogenidea xenomorph acts as a parasite in caterpillars in a similar way that the fictional Alien creature does in its human host,’ said lead researcher Erinn Fagan-Jeffries, PhD student in the University of Adelaide’s School of Biological Sciences.

‘The wasp is also black and shiny like the alien, and has a couple of weird traits for the genus – so xenomorph, meaning ‘strange form’, fits really well.’

It is believed that parasitoid wasps were actually the inspiration behind the gruesome monsters in Ridley Scott’s franchise.

‘At less than 5mm in length, Dolichogenidea xenomorph might seem to lack the punch of its fearsome namesake. 

‘But size is relative; to a host caterpillar, it’s an awesome predator,’ Fagan-Jeffries said.

It is believed that parasitoid wasps were actually the inspiration behind the gruesome monsters in Ridley Scott's franchise (pictured)

It is believed that parasitoid wasps were actually the inspiration behind the gruesome monsters in Ridley Scott’s franchise (pictured)

In nature, the wasps are important in regulating population of insect hosts, and have actually been used to control caterpillar pests in agricultural crops.

The new wasps were found in Queanbeyan, New South Wales and in southern Western Australia, but researchers believe they are more widely distributed across Australia.

It has an extremely long ovipositor, a needle-like structure the female wasps use to inject their eggs into their host. 

WHAT IS A PARASITOID?

Parasitoids are insects with parasitic larvae that eat their host – usually another insect – from the inside out.

They often employ a sharp tool known as an ovipositor to deposit eggs under the skin or exoskeleton of unsuspecting hosts.

After a short gestational period, the larvae hatch and begin consuming their host, normally reaching adulthood when the host has died.

Parasitoid species are mostly types of bee, wasp and ant, though some species of fly also employ the gruesome technique.

The biology of parasitoids has inspired several science fiction authors and scriptwriters to create parasitoidal aliens that kill human hosts, including the infamous Xenomorph in Ridley Scott’s 1979 film ‘Alien’.

Parasitoids are insects with parasitic larvae that eat their host - usually another inset - from the inside out. Pictured is a parasitic wasp that injects larvae into spiders and then sews the host into its nest to pin it down

Parasitoids are insects with parasitic larvae that eat their host – usually another inset – from the inside out. Pictured is a parasitic wasp that injects larvae into spiders and then sews the host into its nest to pin it down

The host of this species is a moth caterpillar that feeds on Eucalyptus leaves.

Researchers have discovered thousands of new species of wasps in recent months.

‘We collected over 500 wasps from a particular subfamily, from all over Australia, and determined that there were more than 200 different species just in that relatively small number of specimens,’ said Andrew Austin, of the University’s Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity.

‘There are currently only 100 species described in this subfamily for Australia, so we’ve at least doubled the number of known species,’ he continued.

‘It’s important to document our biodiversity so that we can make informed conservation decisions about our environment. 

‘Some of these wasps may potentially be useful biological control agents for pests, but we just don’t know about them yet.’

The insect injects its eggs into live caterpillars and the larvae eat their way out. Xenomorph is one of three newly documented parasitoid wasp species - a kind of wasp that needs to kill their host to complete their life cycle. Pictured: Xenomorph from the Alien franchise

The insect injects its eggs into live caterpillars and the larvae eat their way out. Xenomorph is one of three newly documented parasitoid wasp species – a kind of wasp that needs to kill their host to complete their life cycle. Pictured: Xenomorph from the Alien franchise

 



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