Newly discovered wasp species is the stuff of nightmares
On an expedition to the mountains of Indonesia, scientists have made a frightening discovery: a gigantic new species of wasp with jaws bigger than its own front legs.
Discovered in the Mekongga Mountains of Indonesia by entomologist Lynn Kimsey of the University of California, Davis, the unusual critter has the science world buzzing. The shiny black wasp has a huge body: more than two-and-a-half inches long on the male. But the real story is the insect’s massive jaws.
“Its jaws are so large that they wrap up either side of the head when closed,” says Kimsey. “When the jaws are open they are actually longer than the male’s front legs. I don’t know how it can walk.”
Kimsey has named the wasp Garuda after Indonesia’s national symbol, a mythical warrior that is part eagle, part human:
As you can see, the resemblance is uncanny, although the wasp may have a slight advantage in the ‘causes nightmares’ department.
Little is known about the terrifying new species, but Kimsey has speculated on some of its behaviours: “the jaws are big enough to wrap around the female’s thorax and hold her during mating.”
Isn’t that charming? Kimsey also says the wasp is known to feed on other insects, a process that I can only assume is both gruesome and horrifying.
Now, in case you’re still not thoroughly disturbed, here’s one last look at the nasty little sucker. Enjoy!
(Photos by Andrew Richards, Bohart Museum of Entomology and Kathy Keatley Garvey)
[Source: University of California, Davis Department of Entomology, Via: Science News Blog]
interesting, keep them there will you
I agree, keep them there. I am “deadly” allergic to bee stings of any kind and this scares the h… out of me!
I do really Agree with you dona . Keep them there, as don’t want my brother to get deadly over this bee , Wasp any kind as well ..
Me too!!! OMG!
With all this global trade going on…I am sure its just a matter of time before it makes its way on a shipping container.
: (
Oh good, something to look forward to — NOT !
Fighting invasive species and their effects (plant, animal) is costing countries almost $100B a year now.
Give Chuck Norris the 100B$, He’ll fight off any type of invasion, for any country.
ya, no kidding
how are we going to stop these from coming over on boats?
Hi Jenna, this a newly discovered species, which doesn’t mean that it hasn’t been around for hundred if not thousands of years before being ‘found’. This species of wasp is rare and obviously not common. Therefore do not worry about a huge invasion of giant jaw wasp eating your cat, the only thing to worry about is over blown news stories and incorrect use of scientific material.
the lower pictures are of 2 different critters. The one on the left show pincers, designed for mating purposes. the one on the right, appears to be missing 2 legs and has completely different pinchers.
BULLCRAP.
Look closer, Rocker, if you dare. It’s the same critter.
No not really I agree with you about the pincers but the third photo the insect’s feet are raised up and are close to the side of the body this mainly happens when you deep freeze insects for too long so there limbs tend to curl up, raise up, or just go into the opposite direction. I just wanted to clear this up. o________0
All three pictures are of the same insect – open your eyes!!
look again you moron
i am guessing that you just got out of grade 4
The irony of your grade 4 comment and how you incorrectly created your user name is not lost on me.
You need some new glasses.
Either that or your powers of observation are horrible.
Yeah, you’re not a smart person.
Try putting on glasses or going back to school.
Don’t have children please.
Uh, yeah, idiot! It’s the same critter. Ever heard of “perspective” in different angles? What a pompous WRONG moron.
No, it’s the same insect actually. You’re right, the jaw does look different but it’s still the same, it’s not bullcrap, lol.
Yea. LOOK!! again.
As facinating as this find is, I am perturbed (don’t mind the wine spelling) as to how much sarcasm and bleeding heart is involved in your dicertation to share with the world this discovery.
And to finish with the fact that you wish to exemplify this in some sort of Freddy Krugger nightmarish fiend, that you sign off with “enjoy”, as if we have been given some kind of gift to thrill ourselves with your sick sense of enjoyment that you have found a new fear inducing creature.
It seems you may have some more growing up to do (considering, I will surmise you have a degree), indicative that the wasp has eveolved more than you have.
Interesting. You clicked on a headline that said “New wasp species gives us nightmares.” What were you expecting?
LOL – they missed the headline and you missed the part about ignoring “wine spelling”…
Good for you for replying, Simon! That person was obviously trying very hard to sound intelligent, and failing, miserably! You were obviously just having a bit of fun with the topic and those of us who care to use our brains before condemning others will understand that we’re all free to draw our own conclusions. Your article was just a fun way to help spread the news and perhaps point out that many of us feel fortunate that it hasn’t (yet!) been found in our own backyards!
*hands you a sense of humour*
Here, you can have that, it’s free, I’ve got plenty.
Well pin a rose on your nose, Mr Know-it-all.
You take offence to pretty well anything don’t you?
Maybe you should write a book, genius.
Maybe have a little cry while your at it.
I also find your comment interesting (to put it politely). I find insects fascinating and without the majority of them humans could not survive(after all who do you think is at the bottom of many food chains and pollunates plants)…..so I appreciate the sharing of such insects (or other scientific discoveries) that I would not have heard of otherwise and I don’t take offence to the simple word “enjoy”. Perhaps if you found this insect to be “fear inducing” perhaps you need to educate yourself more about insects…..with understanding comes acceptance.
PS> I suspect the author wrote such a title to hook readers…..apparently it worked on you
compared to the finger (thumb) nail it sure does not look 2.5 inches (6.75cm) long. My own whole thumb (59 yrs old) is 7.50 cm ugly bugger glad it is tropical one week of Canadian winter toast!
oh yea that would be funny to see it trying to survive a Canadian winter. But who’s to say this little monster won’t adapt to our enviroment?
Well how do you think our Canadian wasps survive our winters?
They aren’t the same wasps, they are used to our enviorment. These tropical ones aren’t unless they ar more like ours than than they seem.
I’m wondering how scientists explain the origin of the new wasp. Will they blame global warming, or aliens? Unfortunately they killed Saddam so they cannot blame Saddam. Fidel Castro is sick, Chavez is sick, so they are not good candidates to be blamed. The only guy who comes to mind would be Putin. YES ;-)) the new wasp was created by Putin.
Oh I nearly forgot to tell scientists, that largest jaws in history of civilization, have individuals who indebted the world ;-)
Isn’t that the truth? lol
George Bush!!
Yeah because Obama is doing soo much better. Texas don’t mean dumb.
“I’m wondering how scientists explain the origin of the new wasp. Will they blame global warming, or aliens?”
why would they do that? its a new discovery and i can’t imagine how someone would understand that as meaning it is actually “new”
or what Putin, Chavez has to do with it.
“I’m wondering how scientists explain the origin of the new wasp. Will they blame global warming, or aliens? Unfortunately they killed Saddam so they cannot blame Saddam.”
hahahahahahaa
scientists did not kill Sadame. it was elite american navy seal team and not “they” or the scientists you are refering to
do you have a meth problem?
I’m sure the wasp thinks we look pretty scary.
Now, that IS funny!! ROFLMAO.
Spyke – grow a thicker skin – George Bush was the epitomy of dumbass – and I’m a Canadian – I can’t vote in your elections.
It ain’t (sorry for the colloquialism), about Texas…
As for insects surviving the Canadian winter – please wake up folks – we have bees, wasps and hornets in this country every summer… They learn to adapt, just like we (homus erectus) did…
Those are adapted to living in Canada and are able to survive the winter because of that. If any of this newly discovered species made it there they wouldn’t survive. Take as an example the effort to introduce European honey bees to Japan, which were wiped out by the Giant Hornet. Native Japanese honey bees long ago developed a way to fight those hornets.
I’m all for discovering new (or old) species but presenting them in a positive light might be a little more on the mature side of things. I’m all for keeping them right where they like to be and belong …… Indonesia.
Well folks…I find it strange to read comments from those persons arguing over such a petty thing like picture differences….It definately is quite a unique wasp…..but let me clear things up for you so you can enjoy all three pics of the wasp….
The first pic: the wasp has full and undamaged wings. The second pic:(left) The wasp has one antenna longer than the other, what they are calling jaws actually are not, if you look just below the center of the head you will see the actual small jaws of the wasp. The third pic: if you look closely, you will see two full length antenna and also the rear left leg is missing the bottom half, oh! and look at the tattered damged wings!…..I hope this helps all of you….
Hi Wade, yes, the top and bottom images are of different wasp specimens that belong to the same, newly discovered species. We refer to the long, curled appendages that are growing out of the insect’s head as “jaws” because that’s what the scientist who discovered the wasp calls them, and who are we to disagree?
I foresee the makings of a movie in the near future…The Grasp of the Garuda’s!!!
I hate the jungle…..keep them there will you!
Think I’ll move to the high Arctic….bugs….ugh!
I can tell you have never been to the far north in summer…it is infested with insects…far more than any jungle.
Actually kiddies, those are mandibles not JAWS like the Movie. You guys are totally lost most days aren’t you. Cohen go sit in the corner, don’t provoke these what ever they are. ;)
I agree – I would have thought they were called mandibles too, but when an entomologist refers to them as jaws, that’s what I’m going with.
just come up with some excellent spray to kill those new wasp. I hate them, they are a killer to some. ontario
The spray has already been found. It’s called break cleaner. Yes, the stuff for cars! It works great!
my my … play nicely children
amusing to observe these tirades, one would hope you all comport yourselves better in the real world
FYI – jaw is the layman’s term for mandible
My gosh! Where did these people come from? Another planet? City folk are pathetic wimps! You guys should get out a bit more…outside of the concrete jungle. There is “life” out there that sustains us all. Really, you cannot live without these insects. Well ok…just read about it on Wikipedia!!!!!
While you’re there at Wikipedia, look up the Tarantula Wasp.
Looks very similar to this one, and you don’t want to be stung
by it either!
Amen man! I live on an acreage and it is awesome!!! you city slickers have no idea what your missing!!! This wasp lives in Indonesia so lets keep our fingers crossed that the scientists will keep them there.
Ps. All the geeks out there who prey for spelling mistakes should read the post and take the point-of-view into account instead of showing off there inner nerd.
I think this is a cool discovery. It is always great to see a new species discovered, no matter how unpleasant it may look to us. Personally, I think calling this little critter the stuff of nightmares is a bit much really. It sort of reminds me of a stag beetle – and beetles are certainly not ugly. And I find it amusing that some people have written some pretty childish comments about this creature in their ignorance. For heaven’s sake, this is a wasp who likely minds its own business and has better things to do than seek out and intentionally sting people. And, by the way, for those individuals who, in their comments, quite stupidly lumped bees and wasps together as horrible creatures, think long and hard about this important fact: when (that’s right – WHEN) the bees all die off on our planet, our species will die out shortly afterward since we won’t have pollination of our crops occurring. You imbeciles better hope that plant evolution kicks into overdrive fast enough to compensate and save our undeserving skins… If you’re seriously allergic to bees, carry your epi-pen around with you like I do and stop your hysterical whining.
I wholeheartedly agree. Humans are the only living thing the earth can live without. insects, arachnids etc are necessary. long live BUGS.
I think your right evil kitty. I have often looked at us and think of how dirty and wasteful we are or at least can be. The world would be a better place without us yes, but as we are here we should take care of it and not disturb and hurt other animals, insects and such. As it is their planet too and lots of them have been here longer than us.
You are absolutely right Robert! So are you Steve-O.
EW EW EW EW EW EW EW EW EW EW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This “bug” is ssssoooooo disgusting it creeps the life out of me!!!!!!
But I guess I have to kinda respect it because it is one of God’s creations……………..
But hey, at least on the bright side I know what subject I am going to pick this upcoming semester for my science project. ;)
Hey I think they have made it to North america, I was out in my barn last monday and I saw something like that, It was attacking a Spider, then it picked the spider up and carryed it off! This Wasp was approx. 1-1 1/2 in. long. and terrifing.
As the article said, the large jaws are more than likely for mating purposes… Since wasps and bees sting and not bite, I don’t see how the wasp having large jaws makes it terrifying looking… It just looks different. Is that a bad thing?
Interesting that because the article says the wasp will give people nightmares the “hysteria” that ensues. It is a fascinating bug. Why should we be afraid of it because we are told. Draw your own conclusions and think about why you are truly afraid. Fear stops us from learning.
Amen to that. It is very annoying when, hypothetically speaking, something (say a roller coaster) stops someone from learning about (or riding) it because of fear. People should be more open-minded, if they can.