Would I consider that on par with how the Tarantula Hawk Wasp reproduces?
For those not in the know:
Consider yourself warned.
Tarantula Hawk Wasp mothers find themselves a tarantula - yep, a Hugh Jazz spider - and inject venom into the spider, instantly paralysing it. They then drag the paralysed but fully conscious spider to an underground hole, where they lay an egg on the spider. Her mission complete, momma flies off to do fuck knows what, leaving the paralysed spider behind with a ticking time bomb her egg.
A few days later, that egg hatches, and the larva, seeing a perfectly tasty meal nearby, digs into the spider, eating it from the inside out, purposely avoiding vital organs to keep them alive as long as possible - while, again, the spider is fully aware what’s going on and completely powerless to do anything.
Yes, they’re native to Australia. Why’d you ask?
They’re also native to a few other places, Europe one of the few places they’re not native.
thebardingreen@lemmy.starlightkel.xyz 3 weeks ago
I knew that.
They also thrive on incest, and love to breed with their own parents and siblings.
Bedbugs are already just super gross, but the more you learn about their biology the more gross they become.