A recently published study in BMC Biology revealed the discovery of a 99-million-year-old parasitic wasp preserved in amber from the Kachin region of northern Myanmar. The species, named Sirenobethylus charybdis, existed during the time of the dinosaurs and was likely adapted to a unique hunting strategy. The female wasp’s abdomen displayed flap-like structures lined with bristles, resembling a miniature Venus flytrap. These features, scientists claimed, functioned similarly to modern bear traps yet were believed to be used not for crushing prey but for immobilizing it. The research was led by scientists from the Natural History Museum of Denmark, Capital Normal University, and the Beijing Xiachong Amber Museum.

Experts proposed that the wasp utilized these anatomical modifications to grasp a host insect securely while laying an egg. The larva, once hatched, would consume the host from within—a method typical among parasitic wasps. The morphology of the wasp suggested a sophisticated evolutionary adaptation not previously recorded in fossil records. Though contemporary cuckoo and bethylid wasps use comparable strategies, none have displayed such elaborate abdominal appendages. Entomologists described the find as extraordinarily peculiar and emphasized its contribution to understanding the vast evolutionary diversity of insects. Researchers noted that examining extinct insect species like Sirenobethylus charybdis can offer valuable insight into the behavioral complexity and ecological roles of prehistoric fauna. The study highlights how fossilized discoveries continue to reveal astonishing and unprecedented forms of ancient life.