[güttsfükk]

23 august 2011

The wasp, discovered on the remote Indonesian island of Sulawesi, is being called the 'Komodo dragon' of the wasp family.

It sounds like a creature envisioned in a B-grade horror movie: a giant, predatory wasp with jaws so large that they drag when it walks. But that's exactly what entomologist Lynn Kimsey of the University of California, Davis, encountered during a recent expedition to the remote Indonesian island of Sulawesi, according to the UC Davis Department of Entomology.

The new species, dubbed a "warrior wasp" due to its huge ninja-like mandibles, is a terrifying sight up close. It is also being called the "Komodo dragon" of the wasp family due to its intimidating size. Males can measure in at over two and a half inches, jaws included.

"Its jaws are so large that they wrap up either side of the head when closed. When the jaws are open they are actually longer than the male's front legs. I don't know how it can walk," noted Kimsey, who is also director at the Bohart Museum of Entomology.

Luckily it prefers to dine on insects, but if threatened there's little doubt it could leave a sizeable mark on human flesh too.

Though the wasp belongs to the genus Dalara, Kimsey plans to name the species "Garuda" after the part-human, part-eagle mythical beast that is well-known as a national symbol in Indonesia.

The wasp was discovered in the Mekongga Mountains in southeastern Sulawesi, a little-explored Indonesian island between Borneo and New Guinea that Kimsey has called "one of the world's top three islands for biodiversity — that along with Australia and Madagascar." Aside from wasps of legendary size, the island is also home to dwarf buffalo called anoa, palm civets, and colonial spider webs that can stretch for acres.

Kimsey is part of a team of researchers who received a five-year, $4 million grant to study the island's rich biodiversity. So far in her three trips to Sulawesi, she estimates that hundreds — maybe even thousands — of new species could be catalogued. Kimsey hopes that the discovery of the warrior wasp and other surprising new animals will help raise awareness of how unique and precious the region is.

"There's talk of forming a biosphere reserve to preserve this," she said. "There are so many rare and endangered species on Sulawesi that the world may never see."

Source : http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/ani...gs?hpt=hp_bn11

[Faline]

That looks a badass wasp!

[Geemonster]

I saw one of them on TV the other night man,very painful sting apparently.

[Lee]

Saw it in the paper the other day, had it compared to a normal wasp, dwarfed it

[Faline]

Originally Posted by Lee ↗

Saw it in the paper the other day, had it compared to a normal wasp, dwarfed it

[Zodiak]

I fucking hate bugs, bees moreso. But wasps? Fuck that!

[Beautiful Liar]

The size difference is amazing

[johnleeknoefler]

The researcher is lame. She doesn't even know how to properly mount an insect. But here is a better photo.

[johnleeknoefler]

A Tarantula Hawk Wasp doesn't look quite so fearsome but they are very large and scary. My dad got stung in the nose by one while riding on the hood of a pickup through a field. He told me it hurt so bad he passed out. I have captured quite a few of them when I was a teenager and they did scare the crap out of me with that awesome stinger. They have excellent control of the abdomen and can swivel and twist it back at just any angle so it's a very nerve wracking task to catch one. Mostly I ended up cutting the butt end off. They are tough fighters and not to be toyed with . Luckily I was never stung by one.




You must admit they are a gorgeous insect predator. Here one sits on a rock with a honey bee. But don't let the peace and tranquility of the scene deceive you. I have only seen these magnificent insects while working in my grandfather's bee apiaries. I have never seen them attack our honeybees but I have always suspected that it was more than just chance that made them so plentiful only near our bee yards. And also they would show up at our shop if there was any honey around. So perhaps they are drawn to honey but I believe they would just as happily take a bee home to their brood.

[johnleeknoefler]

Actually that last photo is wrong. It's not the same insect. But it does look cool. I have seen that one also but it's not near so large and aggressive.