It is an interesting read, basically, the larvae are put into the caterpillar by the wasp, the larvae take control of its motor functions and use the caterpillar to defend the rest of the wasp cocoons, but you should read the rest of that article, it's a real interesting find.

Thanks to A. Weasel for our nature lesson today.

And Moronpundit reminds of this, in case any of you think all this worry about the undead menace is unfounded.

1

One time I was waiting to see someone in my office and was looking out this window. The window was inset in the building so there was an overhang over it full of spider webs.

These wasps were hunting the spiders through the webs. It was totally cool. They hovered like little helicopters in and around all the webs as the spiders ran like little girls. It was like an insect game of Apache Attack Helicopter V Jihadi except instead of Hellfire they got shot full of eggs and eaten by the larva.

Man, am I glad we're the top of our food chain. It really sucks being any lower.

Oh, and I hate to be a dick (not really, it's my specialty but still...), but that disappointed me. I was looking for much better out of you. At least a "Puppet Master" or "Faculty" comment.

 

2 I know this is old but it is good enough to repost.

3 These wasps were hunting the spiders through the webs. It was totally cool.

Hot bug on bug action is always cool to watch.

And yes, it would suck to be them.