"Komodo dragon" of wasps gets a name

Adam Khor · 26-03-2012 12:09am #1

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 · 26-03-2012 12:11am

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

Adam Khor · 26-03-2012 12:14am

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 · 26-03-2012 12:20am

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

Birdnuts · 26-03-2012 12:45am

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

Mickeroo · 26-03-2012 1:09am

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-

"Komodo dragon" of wasps gets a name

Comments