Wasp larvae devour their brothers and sisters. Scientists finally figured out why

In a new study, scientists found that among the larvae of the species Isodontia harmandi, it is surprisingly common

cannibalism between brothers and sisters.This is a species of solitary wasp that does not practice cohabitation. Individual females create nurseries in natural plant cavities, laying about a dozen eggs in the bodies of paralyzed insects. After hatching, they are eaten by the hatched larvae. Having laid their eggs, the mother wasps then stuff new prey insects into the nursery and cover the entrance with pieces of moss.

After the babies hatch and gnaw on the corpses of insects, they do not calm down. According to a new study, some larvae begin to devour their brothers and sisters.

During the period from 2010 to 2015Researchers collected and analyzed more than 300 nests of I. Harmandi in central Japan. They then reared larvae in 39 nests and found brood reduction in about 77% of nests during the larval stage and in about 59% of nests after the cocoon stage. Finally, they used time-lapse recordings to observe the development and behavior of larvae in 19 nests and observed cannibalism siblings in 74% of them.

The cannibal larvae were generally larger than the siblings they ate. And the victims were often freshly hatched or still very small.

Scientists note that this is most likely the case.occurs because female wasps lay too many eggs for all the larvae to survive and feed on insect corpses. And the cubs have no choice but to eat each other.

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