COSMOS MAGAZINE
Palaeontologists have discovered an unusual 98-million-year-old parasitic wasp, preserved in amber from Myanmar.
Sirenobethylus charybdis. Credit: Qiong Wu.
The newly discovered extinct species has been named Sirenobethylus charybdis – like the sea monster, Charybdis, in Greek mythology.
Sirenobethylus charybdis. Credit: Qiong Wu.
The wasp's abdominal apparatus has never been seen in any known insect.
Abdominal terminal of the specimen displaying the grasping apparatus. Credit: Qiong Wu.
It features 3 trap-like flaps. The lower flap forms a paddle-shaped structure
with a dozen hair-like bristles, similar to a Venus flytrap plant.
Unlike typical wasps, it may have waited for prey to trigger its trap-like flaps rather than chasing it.
Reconstruction of Sirenobethylus charbybdis. Credit: Xiaoran Zuo.
It likely used the flaps to temporarily restrain its host while laying its eggs.
Scientists believe S. charybdis represents a previously unknown family of parasitic wasps related to modern cuckoo wasps.
Cuckoo wasp. Credit: Jojo Dexter/Getty.
Thousands of insects fossilised in amber have been discovered since the late 1800s.
Credit: Brocken Inaglory
Baltic amber alone has resulted in the discovery of more than 3,000 extinct species – mostly insects. While Dominican amber has preserved more than 1,000.