Natures wonders: wasp larvae jump to survive (Introduction)

by David Turell , Tuesday, December 22, 2015, 20:55 (3041 days ago) @ David Turell
edited by David Turell, Tuesday, December 22, 2015, 21:07

The wasp larvae live on an alfalfa weevil larva, occupy its cocoon for several months, during which time it tries to move to a shady spot for protection:-http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151221133838.htm- "Adult Bathyplectes anurus wasps lay their eggs in alfalfa weevil larvae. When the wasp larva develops, it crawls out from inside its host and promptly feeds on it. It then spends ten months in a self-spun cocoon inside the cocoon of the alfalfa weevil larva it has eaten, before developing into a pupa. During this time, the wasp larva performs whip-like twitches against the interior of the cocoon causing the entire structure to move approximately five centimeters at a time.-***-"The Bathyplectes anurus cocoons exposed to light jumped nearly three times more often than those kept in darkness. Jumping activity increased during rapid temperature increases, and was 60 percent higher at conditions of low humidity. When the cocoons were allowed to jump freely in an area of gradient light going from dark to bright, more cocoons ended up in shady areas. Cocoons in the shady area were more likely to survive, compared to the cocoons left out in brighter light.-"The cocoons jumped and moved about 83 percent more when they were placed near Japanese giant ants, known predators of this type of larvae, compared to when there were no danger elements in the vicinity. The frequency of movements decreased once the predators made direct contact with the cocoons."-Comment: Could this behavior have developed naturally?