King Wasps Named Megalara Garuda

Scientists have found a monster wasp species in Sulawesi through Mekongga expedition. In a recent publication in the journal ZooKeys, Friday (23/03/2012), scientists are finally described it as a species of wasp wasps at the same time a new genus, named “Megalara Garuda”.

Scientists from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) involved in the discovery. Along with scientists from Indonesia, participating Lynn S Kimsey of the University of California, Davis, United States, as well as Michael OHL from the Museum fur Naturkunde, Germany.

Megalara Garuda has a characteristic form of the jaw is so large, longer than the front legs. Scientists suspect that a large jaw plays a role in defense from predators and reproduction. Because this is a big jaw, called the wasp monster Garuda Megalara.

“Garuda” taken indonesian word, meaning Eagle. Megalara genus name is taken from the word “Mega“ meaning big and “Dalara“ which is another genus with the most similar characteristics. Digger wasp is categorized in different genus because its characters not included in the genus Dalara.

Megalara has a unique form of malar space or area between the eyes to a large lower jaw. On the other genus, narrow malar sometimes not even there. Another characteristic is the existence of a smooth and short hair black.

The naming of the species with the symbol of Indonesia itself has been planned since the discovery of a monster wasp. Finally, the name is interpreted as the eagle king of birds in Hindu mythology is really given. Megalara Garuda became “king bee” real.

Megalara Garuda measuring between 25-34 mm. Having never found alive, it is still much that is yet known about this insect. Much research remains to be done.

So far only known that these insects kill prey by stinging. With the larger size of males than females, scientists suspect that males hold the female during mating.