Male Wasps Have Been Seen Using Their Genitals as Weapons Against Predators

The wasp that lives in Japan seems to have developed a way to ward off attacks.

The male of the mason wasp species Anterhynchium gibbifrons used spikes that flank the penis as a weapon against hungry frog that thought the insect might make a tasty snack.

The study shows the importance of male genitalia as an anti-predator defense and provides a new perspective for understanding the ecology of male genitalia in animals.

The bees and wasp can deliver venomous sting as an attack or defense mechanism against prey. When you're stung by a female wasp, she's jabbing you with her ovipositor, which can deliver venom or eggs.

It's thought that male wasp are harmless, and in some cases, it's true that they don't have the ability to sting. When studying A. gibbifrons, Sugiura and Tsuji noticed something odd. Tsuji was stabbed with spikes near the insect's penis when it was handled by it.

The spikes are called "pseudo-stinger" and are found in some wasp species. The researchers wereIntrigued after being on the receiving end.

Hooks and barbs can be used to keep the female out of the picture during sex. The pseudo-stinger of A. gibbifrons was not involved in amorous proceedings.

The next step was to find out if the wasp uses the equipment defensively. The Pelophylax nigromaculatus and tree frog of the species Dryophytes japonica were recruited, and Sugiura and Tsuji set about observing how the amphibian and insects interacted.

A male wasp was given to each of the 17 tree frog recipients. The was fought back using their mandibles and pseudo-stingers. The wasp was able to escape after 35.3% of the frog gave up.

17 different tree frog were given with a male wasp whose genitalia had been removed. The 17 wasp were devoured quickly.

Female was given to another 17 tree frog. Almost half of the Frogs made a move to eat the Female was, but most of them gave up after being attacked.

The pond frog did not care. All they had to do was eat the wasp. The pond Frogs seem to laugh at all the things that come in contact with them.

The success of the male was in freeing themselves from the tree frog suggests their pseudo-stingers are an important defense.

The researchers show that the genitals of male A. gibbifrons can be used to counter predatory insects.

Many wasp species have male genitalia as a defensive device.

The research has appeared in a journal.