"Plastic-Piercing Wasp: Nature's Tiny Drill Master"
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The New York Times
Matvey Nikelshparg, a teenage researcher, discovered that a species of parasitic wasp called Eupelmus messene has the ability to drill through plastic using its ovipositor. Nikelshparg observed the wasp drilling through a petri dish and laying an egg outside of the container. Further experiments revealed that some wasps could drill holes in plastic even when a suitable host was present. The drilling process involved rotating the ovipositor in both directions and using rhythmic upward motions to withdraw it. This discovery raises questions about the wear and tear on the ovipositor and why other related species do not exhibit the same behavior. The study may have implications for understanding other insects' puncturing tools and could inspire the development of new human tools.