Science & Nature · 3
How many known species of Hymenoptera (wasps) use venom for paralysis rather than death?
Answer
Hundreds of thousands
Many parasitoid wasps have evolved venoms that paralyze prey without killing them, allowing the wasp to lay eggs in the living (but immobilized) host. The venom targets specific neural synapses, causing temporary or permanent paralysis while keeping the prey alive as a living food source for developing larvae. This precisely-targeted neurotoxin mechanism has inspired research into insecticides and neurotoxin treatments.
💡 Did you know?
Some wasp venoms are so specific they only paralyze one type of insect while leaving others completely unaffected.
Other options people guess
- Thousands
- Millions
- Over 100,000
Topics
- entomology
- toxicology
- venom
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