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[zeemumu]

So this little guy is called the Crypt-Keeper Wasp

He's named after an Egyptian god but the alternative is so much funnier.

What's not funny is that it manipulates other wasps into doing its bidding only to explode from their head.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/01/crypt-keeper-wasps-parasites-new-species/

Scientists have discovered a new parasitic wasp species with a life cycle so diabolical, they named it after Set, the Egyptian god of evil and chaos.

Meet Euderus set, otherwise known as the crypt-keeper wasp.

Native to the southeastern United States, this species lays its egg inside the tiny, wooden chambers that another parasitic wasp species, the gall wasp (Bassettia pallida), carves out in sand live oak trees. These knobby protuberances, known as galls, are sort of like tree cysts induced by the presence of the host wasp's young.

Once the egg hatches, the crypt-keeper larva burrows into the other wasp and takes over its mind, forcing it to start tunneling through the tree’s bark to freedom—a feat the crypt-keeper struggles to perform on its own. (Read more about mindsucking parasites in National Geographic magazine.)

Even more insidious, the larva then forces its victim to drill a hole too small for its own escape. Once the larger wasp is wedged in the opening it’s created, the crypt-keeper consumes its host from the inside out, finally erupting from B. pallida’s forehead out into the world.

Talk about having your mind blown!

 

[hydrophilic attack]

nope

wasps are the fucking worst

 

[Ventara]

That is pretty diabolical

 

[SwiftDeath]

Reason #473 as to why bees are infinitely more lovable than wasps

 

[TCRS]

Jesus christ wtf was nature thinking

 

[John Kowalski]

God has forsaken this land

 

[PSYGN]

I think I've seen that wasp here in east Texas once. I was thinking it looked really pretty and unusual for a wasp. But I'm thinking it was probably some other shiny pearlescent insect that looked like a wasp if it was only recently discovered?

 

[TheFurizzlyBear]

What do wasps do for the environment? I know what Bees do, but wasps... Do that have a purpose other than creating fear?

 

[Rats Off To Ya]

Wasps were a mistake.

 

[brandonh83]

Even more insidious, the larva then forces its victim to drill a hole too small for its own escape. Once the larger wasp is wedged in the opening it’s created, the crypt-keeper consumes its host from the inside out, finally erupting from B. pallida’s forehead out into the world.

What in the hell did I just even read

 

[InterMusketeer]

What do wasps do for the environment? I know what Bees do, but wasps... Do that have a purpose other than creating fear?

They eat mosquitoes. I'd rather have a wasp in my house than a mosquito. The wasp can be easily caught with a glass.

 

[dr3upmushroom]

There's a Trump/Bannon joke in there...

 

[How About No]

morir es vivir

morir es vivir

How about no

I assure you I am not part of the parasite alliance

*drools and stands on top of a tall stalk waiting to be eaten by birds*

 

[wamberz1]

I'm pretty sure this was a stand

 

[QisTopTier]

Nature constantly feeding into my phobia of most bugs xD

 

[ascii42]

This is probably giving Naughty Dog ideas for TLOU 2.

 

[Hypron]

How about no

 

[Dead Man]

Yeah, parasitic wasps are pretty much nightmare fuel.

 

[CadetMahoney]

I bet the victim wasps refer to them as handout thieves and moochers.

 

[Windam]

Push the button, Donald.

 

[Heshinsi]

Yeah, no fuckng way some benevolent being designed this. No fucking way.

 

[adj_noun]

THIS wasp really knows how to get a HEAD!

 

[Goose_Se7en]

I detest all types of creepy crawlies.

 

[Fahzgoolin]

That's gross but incredible that this can even happen.

 

[Dylan]

What's not funny is that it manipulates other wasps into doing its bidding only to explode from their head.

AKA the FOX News wasp.

 

[Breads]

A wasp inception species. Awesome.

Wasps are amazing. Designed by Satan's taint for sure.

 

[AmyS]

Fuck.

I hate every variety of wasp.

 

[Aselith]

This is how Dead Rising zombies were created

 

[UraMallas]

Just another of God's beautiful creations.

But, seriously, to evolve to perform such a complicated and convoluted path to maturity blows my mind.

 

[capitalCORN]

The Bannon of wasps.

 

[Aselith]

Just another of God's beautiful creations.

But, seriously, to evolve to perform such a complicated and convoluted path to maturity blows my mind.

 

[vareon]

Is this different from the Jewel Wasp that turns cockroaches into zombie cockroaches?

EDIT: Oh it's not the same at all! Cool.

 

[Regiruler]

That has to make for at least #10 in the number of different mind control species

 

[Technosteve]

Thanks Trump

 

[Thoraxes]

What a headcase.

 

[legacyzero]

Nuke em.

Let's nuke the bastards.

 

[Dragun619]

Damn, wtf. How the hell does one even evolve or develop into doing shit like that. lol.

Nature, man. Mad scary sometimes.

 

[Killer Queen]

Alien covanent viral marketing??

 

[Bronetta]

 

[farisr]

Reading the title, I was thinking "host" = "human"

Phew...

 

[Lotto]

Hyperparasitism is super interesting, remember taking a class and learning about it and being blown away that something like this can exist. Hypermanipulation takes it to another level, wow, thanks for sharing OP.

 

[Thebeardofknowledge]

Damn nature, you scary.

 

[KO Traveling Hobo]

(Read more about mindsucking parasites in National Geographic magazine.)

I don't know why, but I found this parenthetical hilarious.

 

[mordecaii83]

Reading the title, I was thinking "host" = "human"

Phew...

Yeah me too, I was expecting similar to a bot fly except in your head... *shivers*

 

[Sesha]

Set doesn't deserve to be compared to hellish demonspawn like this wasp. Set got demonized because he was the god of foreigners, and he became associated with foreign oppressors like Persia. I say Set deserves to have his name cleared of slander after so much time.

On-topic, fuck wasps. I can only imagine the horrors if parasite wasps were infected with the T-virus in the RE universe. Maybe there's an idea for RE8.

 

[Haly]

I couldn't tell whether the article was describing a wasp's lifecycle or the GOP strategy.

 

[How About No]

Set doesn't deserve to be compared to hellish demonspawn like this wasp. Set got demonized because he was the god of foreigners, and he became associated with foreign oppressors like Persia. I say Set deserves to have his name cleared of slander after so much time.

On-topic, fuck wasps. I can only imagine the horrors if parasite wasps were infected with the T-virus in the RE universe. Maybe there's an idea for RE8.

Isn't Dead Rising literally about bees taking over humans and making them zombies?

 

[Hyperactivity]

Reminds me of Junji Ito tbh, especially the hole too small to truly fit in thing

 

[Creaking]

God loves his children

 

[Sesha]

Isn't Dead Rising literally about bees taking over humans and making them zombies?

Is it? I've only watched others play Dead Rising even though I own a copy of the first game, so I only vaguely know what the plot is. I'm inclined to believe it, though. It's such an obvious idea that someone has to have used it already because, again, fuck wasps.