A visit to my inlaws place late one afternoon gave me a chance to witness the Duel. A Cockroach and a Jewel Wasp "Emerald Cockroach Wasp or Jewel Wasp (Ampulex compressa)" pushed and wrestled with each other. Not knowing what exactly they were doing, my camera clicked away to record this moment. After 20 minutes of this pushing around they just turned around and departed in opposite directions. While this fight was on, an Ant was holding on to the cockroach's legs with it's mandible trying to get a piece of the pie.
Family: Ampulicidae
After research via google, I found this interesting article on the National Geographic site.
While reading the article on the National Geographic website, I was enlightened on what was actually happening. Jewel Wasps use Cockroaches as a host to lay their eggs on for the Larvae to have fresh food when they hatch. After the egg is laid and hatches, the larva bores into the roach and eats the still live cockroach inside out.
For all this to happen, the wasp has to inject the venom into a very specific spot in the roach's brain using sensors along it's stinger to deliver the precise sting. Before it does this, it stings the Cockroach's midsection to inflict temporary paralysis. Once the roach is incapacitated for a brief period of time, the Wasp becomes nature's neurosurgeon. With absolute precision, the wasp feels it's way into the roach's brain and re-calibrates a specific area which then remove's the roach's free will to move. Then the egg is laid on the abdomen of the cockroach. The egg hatches, and the larva eats into the roach while it is still alive and grows for about a week or so. It then uses the empty body of the roach to weave it's cocoon and matures to an adult. After 4 weeks, it emerges out of the roach cocoon as an adult.
What I witnessed in 20 minutes....
The roach and wasp were pushing at each other strategically using their Antennae and mandibles to get the best of each other. The wasp desperately trying to get the roach on it's back to inject it's venom. The roach pushing back with it's head to keep control. Their Antennae poking through each other's legs. From time to time they would separate like the participants of a boxing match would when the bell went off. After breaking for a few seconds, they were back at each others throat again. Finally the cockroach was slowly maneuvered up the side wall of a step. The wasp deciding which angle was best for it's attack, the roach moved back and forth, watching the wasp with anticipation and covering it's back all the while. While all of this was happening, an Ant tried to get a piece of the pie. Using it's mandibles, it tried to clamp on to the roach's legs. The wasp tried it's best to move the roach onto it's back, but is simply couldn't considering the roach was twice it's size. After 20 minutes, each of them including the ant simply turned around and walked away. The outcome of this duel was a draw for now.
At the end of it all, the cockroach survived to live another day. It would be interesting to know what the success rate is for these wasps.
Apologies for the not so great picture quality as I had the wrong lens to take close ups.
For now,
Alexis
