X
May 7, 2014 Sophie Weiner

A new species of wasp discovered in Thailand in 2008 were finally given a name: Ampulex dementor, a tribute to J.K. Rowling’s Dementors, the most depressing monsters of all time. The wasps have been called “soul sucking,” as their preferred method of reproduction involves stinging a cockroach to place it in a “docile” state while […]

Read More…

March 20, 2013 Andy Cush

A newly discovered species of wasp that lays its eggs inside other insects, which kill their hosts as they hatch, has been named for an appropriately badass fictional character: Beatrix Kiddo aka The Bride, the protagonist of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill. Science Codex points to Kiddo’s mastery of the five point palm exploding heart technique as potential […]

Read More…