Metoecus paradoxus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Family: | Ripiphoridae |
Genus: | Metoecus |
Species: | M. paradoxus |
Binomial name | |
Metoecus paradoxus (Linnaeus, 1761) | |
Synonyms | |
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Metoecus paradoxus, also known as the wasp nest beetle and eyelash bug, is a species of Metoecus in the family Ripiphoridae. [1]
M. paradoxus measures approximately 10 mm in length. It has a dark head and body and paler, orange-coloured pointed elytra that do not completely cover the abdomen. It has feathery antennae. [2]
M. paradoxus is primarily a parasitoid of Vespula vulgaris (the common wasp). Adult females lay eggs in decaying wood in autumn, which hatch in spring or summer. The first instar triungulin clings to a V. vulgaris worker to be transported to the nest. Once at the nest, the larva parasitises a wasp larva – once the larva has closed the cell, the M. paradoxus larva consumes the host and pupates in its place. Adults emerge from late July to early October. The development from larva to adult takes less than one month. Adult beetles live for between 6 and 12 days and probably do not feed. [3]
Parasites employ various mechanisms, including chemical mimicry and chemical camouflage, to mimic the host colony's odor. When the M. paradoxus beetle penetrates the V. vulgaris host, it is vital that it avoids being detected. The same goes for all parasitic social insect species. These beetles seem to avoid being detected by mimicking the cuticular hydrocarbon profile of their host, the common wasp. A study found that M. paradoxus shares around 91.1% of compounds with V. vulgaris.[ citation needed ]
In 2020, American rapper Megan Thee Stallion created an Instagram post featuring a video of her and a female friend talking about a beetle with large antennae in Megan's house. Megan's friend asks what the bug is, and Megan responds with, "A bitch-eyelash bug," and the two laugh. Megan then says the bug's eyelashes are "on fleek" and says that "[It] just got [its] eyelashes done at the club." The bug then begins to fly, Megan and her friend scream, and the video stops. [4] A second recording shows comments of people reacting to it and identifying it as M. paradoxus as Megan's friend shows her images of it, to which Megan replies, "Bitch, that is her. Look at them damn lashes! That is crazy." [5] The first video has since gone viral and has become an internet meme.
However, the bug in the video looks more like a male Pterotus obscuripennis , of the firefly family. [6]
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Dinocampus coccinellae is a braconid wasp parasite of coccinellid beetles, including the spotted lady beetle, Coleomegilla maculata. D. coccinellae has been described as turning its ladybird host into a temporary "zombie" guarding the wasp cocoon. About 25% of Coleomegilla maculata recover after the cocoon they are guarding matures, although the proportion of other ladybird species which recover is much lower.
Belonogaster petiolata is a species of primitively eusocial wasp that dwells in southern Africa, in temperate or subhumid climate zones. This wasp species has a strong presence in South Africa and has also been seen in northern Johannesburg. Many colonies can be found in caves. The Sterkfontein Caves in South Africa, for example, contain large populations of B. petiolata.
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Megan Jovon Ruth Pete, known professionally as Megan Thee Stallion, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Originally from Houston, Texas, she first garnered attention when videos of her freestyling became popular on social media platforms such as Instagram. She signed with 1501 Certified Entertainment in 2018, and saw her mainstream breakthrough the following year with the release of her singles "Hot Girl Summer" and "Cash Shit" ; the former peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 while the latter received quadruple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). "Cash Shit" was also included on her commercial mixtape Fever (2019), which was followed by her extended play Suga (2020)—both of which peaked within the top ten of the Billboard 200.
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