"Komodo dragon" of wasps gets a name

Adam Khor

Megalara garuda, after the half man-half eagle supernatural being of Hindu mythology (and national symbol of Indonesia). The giant wasp had previously been described as "the Komodo dragon of wasps" due to its large size, fearsome jaws, rarity and of course being endemic to Indonesia. It has never been studied alive, though, so everything about its lifestyle remains a mystery.

http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-03-megalara-garuda-king-wasps.html

Galvasean

Screw that. Ad Indonesia to the list of countries I'm NEVER going to.

Adam Khor

Galvasean wrote: »

Screw that. Ad Indonesia to the list of countries I'm NEVER going to.

If it takes wasps to keep you away from a country, then don´t go to Japan... Japanese hornets are also HUGE, extremely venomous and they are the number 1 killer of humans among wild animals in the country- up to 40 people per year!



Check out the stinger:

Galvasean

Yeah, I think I'll just stay the hell away from Asia altogether.

Birdnuts

Imagine accidentally sitting on that hornet in your shorts:eek:

Mickeroo

Was meaning to start a thread on this guy myself. Thats mad that there was also a specimen sitting in germany since the 1930's.

Here's the full journal article about it: http://www.pensoft.net/journals/zookeys/article/2475/abstract/megalara-garuda-a-new-genus-and-species-of-larrine-wasps-from-indonesia-larrinae-crabronidae-hymenoptera-