Researchers Discover 15 New Parasitic Wasps That Mind Control Spiders

Before being eaten by the wasp larvae, the spiders build them a cocoon for their metamorphosis.

By Leslie Nemo
Jan 22, 2020 10:00 PMJul 17, 2020 5:51 PM
Acrotaphus pakattu - Kari Kaunisto
Researchers found 15 new species of a tropical wasp that parasitizes spiders, not only feeding them to their young, but also inducing them to spin cocoons for them. (Credit: Kari Kaunisto)

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Polysphincta wasps might be pretty if they weren't so brutal. Native to the Americas, the larvae of these parasitic insects eat their host spiders while simultaneously controlling their minds, inducing the spiders to spin a cocoon the wasps will use to pupate into adults.

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