Parasites are organisms that live off the resources of other organisms, deriving nutrients and sustenance often at their host’s expense. Usually, the process of parasitism involves the manipulation of the host to act according to the parasite’s needs. In Japan, a team of researchers recently studied how one particular parasite—the Reclinervellus nielseni wasp—is able to turn spiders—specifically the Cyclosa argenteoalba (orb-weaving spiders)—into zombie slaves using mind control.
Larvae Mind Control
The female Reclinervellus nielseni wasp, native to Japan, lay their eggs either on the backs of orb-weaving spiders, or within their bodies before flying away. The spiders are then free to live a relatively normal life—that is, until the larvae hatch. When the wasp larvae hatch, they inject a chemical cocktail into the spider, essentially hacking into its nervous system, forcing the zombie spider to obey their every command.
Zombie Spider Construction Workers
Having taken control of the orb-weaving spider’s nervous system, the wasp larvae orders for a new home to be built for it, in order to protect it during its vulnerable time spent metamorphosing. Manipulating certain hormones and chemicals in the Cyclosa argenteoalba’s nervous system, the zombie spider will go about making an incredibly sturdy and protective cocoon for the wasp larvae. When the spider is done making the larvae’s new home, the wasp eats it, no longer having a need for a zombie spider slave.
A New Pad
Keizo Takasuka from Kobe University, Japan and a team of researchers were already well aware of the parasitic relationship between the wasps and spiders, as well as the Cyclosa’s special web-making abilities. In fact, Takasuka had recorded several different types of webs that the Cyclosa can make, depending on their purpose. When the spider wants to hunt, it creates an orb-web—a complex and strong web design that specializes in capturing prey.
However, when the spider simply wants to hang out and maybe molt a little skin, it creates a looser, less-complex “resting web.” The question was, could the wasps that turn Cyclosas into zombie spiders also control the type of webbing that they use to make cocoons?
After much experimentation, Takasuka and his team concluded that the webbing used to create these cocoons is extremely similar to the spider’s “resting web” design, sporting the same type of frilly decorations and structures.
However, when the zombie spider creates a cocoon from its old webs, the team of scientists found the structure to be significantly stronger than it was previously. Additionally, researchers were amazed to find that the new cocoon-webbing shines brightly when exposed to UV light, which they expect deters flying insects and other creatures from colliding with the cocoon.
Takasuka and his team have since published their research in The Journal of Experimental Biology online, which you can read here.
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Wasps Use Mind Control to Create Zombie Spider Slaves
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