Change in behaviour of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana, after being stung by the sphecid wasp Ampulex compressa

Abstract

The solitary wasp Ampulex compressa Fabr. (Sphecidae: Hymenoptera) stings the cockroach first in the thorax and then in the neck toward the suboesophageal ganglion. The first sting results in a short lasting and completely reversible paralysis. The second sting causes an irreversible change in the behaviour: undisturbed cockroaches seem to be lethargic, and if stimulated they are able to run with speeds that equal that of control animals. RÉSUMÉ Changements dans le comportement de Periplaneta americana après piqǔres par Ampulex compressa (Hym. Sphecidae) La guěpe solitaire aculéate, Ampulex compressa Fabr. n'inflige en général à sa proie, la blatte Periplaneta americana L., que deux piqǔres: l'une thoracique au niveau d'un patte prothoracique; la seconde dans le cou, au niveau du ganglion sousoesophagien. La première piqǔre provoque une paralysie immédiate, complètement réversible en moins d'une minute. Les piqǔres doubles provoquent également une paralysie, mais réversible dans un délai de plusieurs minutes. Au surplus, la deuxième piqǔre influence irréversiblement le comportement de la blatte, qui présente un état léthargique mais est tout à fait capable de se déplacer rapidement après une stimulation des mécanorécepteurs cercaux par un léger souffle d'air au niveau du cerque.

Digger wasp versus cricket: Immediate actions of the predator's paralytic venom on the CNS of the prey

“…The events and their time course described in our experiments, together with earlier morphometric, biochemical, behavioral, and electrophysiological data (Gnatzy et al, 1992;Gnatzy, 1996;Gnatzy and Otto, 1996), leave no doubt that Liris stings directly into the CNS of crickets, since the venom affects the prey only when it is injected into the CNS. Comparable observations to the Liris/Acheta system with respect to the stinging behavior as well as with respect to the venom action have been described for caterpillars paralyzed by the wasp Euodynerus foraminatus (Steiner, 1986), and for cockroaches paralyzed by the aculeate wasps Ampulex compressa and Ampulex caniculata (Fabre, 1891;Williams, 1929Williams, , 1942Piek et al, 1984;Fouad et al, 1994).…”

“…Either they inject their venom into the hemolymph, where it diffuses and acts at the neuromuscular junctions, or they sting in the direction of the central nervous system (CNS), causing paralysis that is often followed by a change in the prey's behavior (Beard, 1952;Steiner, 1962;Piek et al, 1984Piek et al, , 1989Gnatzy et al, 1992;Gnatzy and Otto, 1996;Fouad et al, 1994Fouad et al, , 1996; for reviews, see Rathmayer, 1978;Piek, 1986;Steiner, 1986).…”

How Not to Be Turned into a Zombie

“…This second sting causes 30 min of grooming [Weisel-Eichler et al, 1999] followed by long-lasting pacification, but not paralysis, of the cockroach. After the brain sting, the cockroach can walk, run, fly, or swim if properly stimulated, but for weeks it does not engage in these behaviors [Piek et al, 1984;Weisel-Eichler and Libersat, 2002;Libersat and Gal, 2007]. It is said to have lost its free will, and hence is often referred to as a zombie.…”

“…The "zombification" of the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) by the emerald jewel wasp (Ampulex compressa) stands out as one of the most remarkable and well-studied examples of host behavioral manipulation by a parasitoid [Williams, 1942;Piek et al, 1984;Veltman and Wilhelm, 1991;Richardson and Paul, 1993;Fouad et al, 1996;Weisel-Eichler and Libersat, 2002;Libersat, 2003;Gincel et al, 2004;Gal et al, 2005Gal et al, , 2014Keasar et al, 2006;Moore et al, 2006;Libersat and Gal, 2007, 2013Libersat, 2008, 2010a, b;Libersat et al, 2009;Fox et al, 2009;Kaiser and Libersat, 2015]. In order to reproduce, the emerald jewel wasp must somehow lead its much larger victim to a chamber, glue an egg to the cockroach in just the right spot, and seal the chamber with debris [Williams, 1942].…”

“…The wasp subdues the cockroach with a stereotyped attack [Williams, 1942;Piek et al, 1984;Veltman and Wilhelm, 1991]. The wasp begins by grasping the cockroach just behind the head with its curved mandibles (holding fast to the edge of the pronotum; Fig.…”