Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
USA, Sep 17.- A team of biologists from Mississippi (USA) has discovered a previously unknown species of parasitoid wasp that places its larvae inside the bodies of live flies and later emerges from them as a xenomorph in the 'Alien' movies, reports Live Science.
The new species was named 'Syntretus perlmani' and is the first wasp known to infect adult fruit flies. Previously, some species of wasps were known to attack flies, but in a more vulnerable state, in the pupal stage.
These wasps are classified as parasitoids rather than parasites because they end up killing their hosts, while parasites usually do not.
The species was discovered in March 2023 during tests on common fruit flies ('Drosophila affinis') in search of parasitic worms. The scientists were amazed to see that one of the flies had a wasp larva in its abdomen and began a specific experiment in which the discovery was confirmed.
The study's lead author, Logan Moore, explained to Live Science that female S. perlmani' use their stinger to stab and deposit an egg inside the fly's abdomen. The egg then hatches into a small larva, which grows inside the fly for about 18 days before leaving its host's body, leaving it mortally wounded.
"It will effectively emerge from the side of the fly," Moore said. "And, to add an extra layer of horror, the fly will typically stay alive for several hours after that."
After leaving the body of their host, mature wasp larvae burrow into whatever substrate is nearby and enter the cocoon stage for about 23 days. After that, they become adult specimens.
Other flies, in addition to 'Drosophila affinis', are also susceptible to being infected by these parasitoid wasps, which have already been found in several US states (Text and Photo: Cubasí)
