The jewel wasp (Ampulex compressa) is an insect of the family Ampulicidae. They are found in tropical areas such as Africa, Southeast Asia, and South Africa. While A. compressa may seem to be an ordinary wasp, its biological patterns and traits are far from it. Classified as an entomophagous parasite, it grows inside a host roach. This does not even scratch the surface. The female wasp is known to first inject a specialized venom via its antennae to the brain tissue of the roaches. Its effects are immediately observed when the roach is partially paralyzed. By doing so, the wasp also controls its motivation-escape tendencies and such and completely regulate their behavior. This is a major feature and therefore has been under the scrutiny of many scientists.The reason why studying these creatures is important in the scientific community is because of the various implications on human neurobiology. Emerald wasps are neither parasites nor completely free beings. They are what are known as entomophagous parasites. This transitional phase may hold the evolutionary secret as to why and how parasites evolve, the way they do. Moreover, the mental life of the insects has long been discounted, thus gaining the interest of scientists.Read on to know more about these curious creatures.Enjoyed exploring and learning about this insect? Try out our other articles on fairyfly facts and four toothed mason wasp facts.
Fun Emerald Cockroach Wasp Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Cockroaches
What do they eat? Parasite
Average litter size? 1-2 eggs
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 0.86 in (22 mm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Blue-green body, red legs, ant-like appearance
Skin Type Exoskeleton
What were their main threats? Cats
What is their conservation status? Not assessed
Where you’ll find them? Tropical Regions, Warm Climate
Locations Africa, Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Ampulex
Class Insecta
Family Ampulicidae
Emerald Cockroach Wasp Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is an emerald cockroach wasp?Ampulex compressa, or the jewel wasp, is a parasitic insect. It is a hemolymph feeder known to feed off host roaches.What class of animal does an emerald cockroach wasp belong to?The cockroach wasp or jewel wasp belongs to the Insecta class of the Kingdom Animalia.How many emerald cockroach wasps are there in the world?While an exact estimate of the population of the cockroach wasp or jewel is not available, it is sufficient to say that they are enough specimen present in the world to not go extinct anytime soon.Where does an emerald cockroach wasp live?As it prefers warmer climates, it can be found in places like Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Pacific Islands. They were manually introduced to Hawaii as a population control measure in 1941. However, this endeavor failed. The wasp does not hunt in large enough quantities to serve as a population measure. Accidentally, it once reached the ports of Rio De Janeiro and Sao Paulo in Brazil.What is an emerald cockroach wasp’s habitat?The jewel wasp (A. compressa) thrives in a slightly warmer environment. Many controlled experiments have been performed on the jewel wasps. The environmental conditions were regulated in a way to mimic the tropical environment- with temperatures controlled at 71-75° F (23-25° C) and humidity was kept above 50%.Who do emerald cockroach wasps live with?The jewel wasp is a solitary insect and tends to live alone. Male and female come together only to mate.How long does an emerald cockroach wasp live?An adult wasp can live up to several months.How do they reproduce?These insects have the most curious method of reproduction which has the interest of the scientists’ world over. The female wasp preys on a cockroach (like Periplaneta americana or Periplaneta australasiae) host for the larvae to develop. By the use of some very complex biochemical mechanism, the insect can take control over the host’s brain entirely; rendering its escape reflex and survival instincts useless. The wasp larvae development occurs in three distinct stages.Adult female wasps sting venom into the cockroach species to paralyze prey. The sting is very precise and delivered twice at specific locations- the thoracic ganglion and head ganglia. The stinger uses the sensory organs at the end of its antennae to discern the locations in the brain. This parasitoid wasp sting induces muscle contraction and fries the nerve synapses and nerve tissue. Consequently, the victim loses motor action potentials. The roach exhibits diminished escape responses or reflexes.The wasp proceeds to move the roach into its burrow. It lays one or two eggs on its legs. The wasp larva lives by feeding on the victim’s body. With next to no escape responses or escape reflexes and a sealed burrow entrance, the victim stays inside the burrow. The instar feeds on the host and builds its cocoon around it. The adult life of the larva begins after eight days.What is their conservation status?IUCN Red List does not hold an account for the wasp. It has not been assessed yet.Emerald Cockroach Wasp Fun FactsWhat do emerald cockroach wasps look like?The wasp has a metallic blue-green body, hence the name jewel wasp. It has a very shiny and attractive exoskeleton. Its legs are of the color red. It is really small in size, not even amounting to an inch (22 mm). Males tend to be smaller than the female. The species have four larval stages, wherein it develops inside the roach host.How cute are they?Jewel wasp is not at all cute. It is a strange-looking insect, although very fascinating.How do they communicate?The wasp uses visual and biochemical perception channels to communicate. The most curious form of its communication is when it controls the roaches through the venom in its ganglion. The venom is not known to completely paralyze the species, rather it rewires its neurological functioning to control its behavior.How big is an emerald cockroach wasp?The wasp (Ampulex compressa) is a very small insect. It is 0.86 in (22 mm) long.How fast can an emerald cockroach wasp fly?The jewel wasp (Ampulex compressa) is not known to fly.How much does an emerald cockroach wasp weigh?As the insect is less than an inch (22 mm) long, it weighs a negligible amount. If it were to be compared to a cockroach, it is almost two times smaller. This fact does not stop it to take control over its host. It has very sophisticated methods to control and zombify the creature twice its size.What are the male and female names of the species?No separate names are used for males and females of this species.What would you call a baby emerald cockroach wasp?The offspring is called a larva while it is developing.What do they eat?This species of wasp turns cockroaches into a host while growing or developing.Are they dangerous?Yes, these wasps are known to highjack a roach’s entire neurological system and use it as a host to incubate its egg.Would they make a good pet?No, these parasitic creatures are not to be kept as pets. Prior attempts at using them as pest control have failed.Did you know…An article in Nature described the biomechanics behind the antennae venom and its effects. When the stinger venom is administered to roaches, the GABA activates chloride channels, resulting in paralysis. The beta-alanine further extends the paralysis period.Ram Gal and associates are Israeli scientists who have extensively studied the behavior of A. compressa. By designing different experimental trials, they were able to observe mechanism which aids the wasp sting administration. Initially, they removed the SEG which is also known as the sub-esophageal ganglia. This is the cluster of the roach brain responsible for movement. This removal confused the wasp and was unable to perform the sting. In another condition, where the nerve emerging from the SEG was cut, did not seem to have any effect on the wasp. Finally, scientists manually inserted the venom into the roach and observed how it affected its neuronal functioning.Some other wasps include the giant ichneumon wasp, thread-waisted wasp, horntail wasp.Do emerald cockroach wasps sting humans?The wasp is not known to sting humans. However, the process by which its egg develops can be highly unhygienic. The decomposing roaches might be a host of unhealthy pathogens. General precautions to maintain hygiene can help keep these wasps out.Do wasps kill cockroaches?The roach host dies an insidious and slow death at the hands of the wasp. Surprisingly, it is not the sting venom that kills it. Rather, the venom paralyzes and restricts the movement of the cockroaches, as they attack important ganglion of the brains. Its legs are rendered useless because of the increased chloride conductance. Following which the cockroach host becomes the cocoon for the larva. As its escape reflex fails, it is hapless and is consumed by the larvae.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other insects from our curly hair tarantula facts and peppered moth facts pages.You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Emerald cockroach wasp coloring pages.
What type of animal is an emerald cockroach wasp?
Ampulex compressa, or the jewel wasp, is a parasitic insect. It is a hemolymph feeder known to feed off host roaches.
Fun Emerald Cockroach Wasp Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Cockroaches
What do they eat? Parasite
Average litter size? 1-2 eggs
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 0.86 in (22 mm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Blue-green body, red legs, ant-like appearance
Skin Type Exoskeleton
What were their main threats? Cats
What is their conservation status? Not assessed
Where you’ll find them? Tropical Regions, Warm Climate
Locations Africa, Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Ampulex
Class Insecta
Family Ampulicidae
Fun Emerald Cockroach Wasp Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Cockroaches
What do they eat? Parasite
Average litter size? 1-2 eggs
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 0.86 in (22 mm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Blue-green body, red legs, ant-like appearance
Skin Type Exoskeleton
What were their main threats? Cats
What is their conservation status? Not assessed
Where you’ll find them? Tropical Regions, Warm Climate
Locations Africa, Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Ampulex
Class Insecta
Family Ampulicidae
Fun Emerald Cockroach Wasp Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Cockroaches
What do they eat? Parasite
Average litter size? 1-2 eggs
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 0.86 in (22 mm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Blue-green body, red legs, ant-like appearance
Skin Type Exoskeleton
What were their main threats? Cats
What is their conservation status? Not assessed
Where you’ll find them? Tropical Regions, Warm Climate
Locations Africa, Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Ampulex
Class Insecta
Family Ampulicidae
Fun Emerald Cockroach Wasp Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Cockroaches
What do they eat? Parasite
Average litter size? 1-2 eggs
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 0.86 in (22 mm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Blue-green body, red legs, ant-like appearance
Skin Type Exoskeleton
What were their main threats? Cats
What is their conservation status? Not assessed
Where you’ll find them? Tropical Regions, Warm Climate
Locations Africa, Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Ampulex
Class Insecta
Family Ampulicidae
What do they prey on? Cockroaches
What do they eat? Parasite
Average litter size? 1-2 eggs
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 0.86 in (22 mm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Blue-green body, red legs, ant-like appearance
Skin Type Exoskeleton
What were their main threats? Cats
What is their conservation status? Not assessed
Where you’ll find them? Tropical Regions, Warm Climate
Locations Africa, Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Ampulex
Class Insecta
Family Ampulicidae
What do they prey on? Cockroaches
What do they eat? Parasite
Average litter size? 1-2 eggs
How much do they weigh? N/A
How long are they? 0.86 in (22 mm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Blue-green body, red legs, ant-like appearance
Skin Type Exoskeleton
What were their main threats? Cats
What is their conservation status? Not assessed
What do they prey on?
Cockroaches
What do they eat?
Parasite
Average litter size?
1-2 eggs
How much do they weigh?
N/A
How long are they?
0.86 in (22 mm)
How tall are they?
What do they look like?
Blue-green body, red legs, ant-like appearance
Skin Type
Exoskeleton
What were their main threats?
Cats
What is their conservation status?
Not assessed
Where you’ll find them? Tropical Regions, Warm Climate
Locations Africa, Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Ampulex
Class Insecta
Family Ampulicidae
Where you’ll find them?
Tropical Regions, Warm Climate
Locations
Africa, Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Ampulex
Kingdom
Animalia
Genus
Ampulex
Class Insecta
Family Ampulicidae
