A species of wasp that lives in Japan seems to have developed a rather unconventional method for warding off attacks.
using spikes that flank the penis as a weapon – with varying effectiveness – against hungry frogs that think the insect might make a tasty snack.of Kobe University in Japan,"highlights the importance of male genitalia as an anti-predator defense and provides a new perspective for understanding the ecological roles of male genitalia in animals."
Some insects of the order Hymenoptera – wasps and bees – can deliver venomous stings as an attack or defense mechanism against prey and predators. However, only females of these species have a venomous sting; when you're stung by a female wasp, she's jabbing you with her ovipositor, which can deliver either venom or eggs as the situation demands.
It's thought that male wasps are harmless, and in some cases, that's true: They do indeed lack the apparatus to deliver a painful sting. But when studying– Sugiura and Tsuji noticed something strange. When handling a male of the species, it delivered quite a painful prick to Tsuji using spikes protruding near the insect's penis.
Such spikes are seen in some wasp species and are known as a"pseudo-stinger". Intrigued after having been on the receiving end of it, the researchers decided to investigate its function in detail. In some insects, hooks and barbs can help keep the female from wriggling away during mating. However, in a laboratory setting, the pseudo-stinger ofThe next step was to investigate if the wasps commonly use the equipment defensively. Pond frogs of the species
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Long genital spines on male wasps can save their livesA male wasp’s genital spines can save his life in an encounter with a scary tree frog, a new study shows.
Read more »
Male wasps use spiky genitals to defend themselves from predatorsMale mason wasps have no sting, but they have spines on their genitals that can cause a pricking pain, and these are effective at deterring some frogs from eating them
Read more »
Male wasps use their genital spines to sting frogs (and people)This is evidence that just like their female counterparts, males use their genitalia to avoid being eaten by stinging their predators.
Read more »
These Male Wasps Use Genital Spines to Scare Off AttackersIn one species of mason wasp, “pseudo stings” on males’ genitals let them mimic females and scare predators
Read more »
Male wasps fend off attackers with penis ‘stingers’New findings represent the first evidence of male genitalia playing a defensive role in the animal kingdom.
Read more »