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<\/p>\nBoffins have discovered a terrifying new species of parasitic wasp that sucks the blood from its host and eats it inside out. <\/p>\n
The alien-like insect was found in the Amazon, specifically on the Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve in Peru. It has been named Capitojoppa amazonica<\/i>. <\/p>\n
The wasp grows to be roughly 1.7cm long. It is armed with a tube-like organ it uses to insert an egg into the body of the host. Caterpillars, beetles and spiders are among the unfortunate critters it targets. <\/p>\n
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Utah State University's Brandon Claridge, the lead author of the study detailing C. amazonica<\/i>, told Live Science: "Once the host is located and mounted, the female will frantically stroke it with her antennae. If acceptable, the female will deposit a single egg inside the host by piercing it with her ovipositor."<\/p>\n
When the egg hatches, the wasp's larvae will then eat the host inside out. They then continue to develop inside the host's corpse before emerging fully-grown. <\/p>\n
And if that isn't grim enough, other wasps swarm to suck the haemolymph – a blood-like fluid inside – from the host after the soon-to-be mother pierces it with her tube.<\/p>\n
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"Females will even stab the host with the ovipositor and feed without laying an egg as it helps with gaining nutrients for egg maturation," Claridge said. <\/p>\n
The wasp was discovered as part of a long-term surveying project. The team used special tent-like traps to catch flying insects in the rainforest. C. amazonica<\/i> is just one of 109 new species they discovered.<\/p>\n
"The species biodiversity of many organisms is highest on the whole planet at Allpahuayo-Mishana," said study co-author Ilari S\u00e4\u00e4ksj\u00e4rvi, from the University of Turku.<\/p>\n
"Allpahuayo-Mishana is a part of the Amazon that has an unprecedented abundance of species, due to the region's complex geological history."<\/p>\n
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