Top 4 'masters of manipulation' in the world of species

In our world, there are also many species that have the ability to manipulate other species to serve their purposes. Let's find out which species they are!

1. Wasps turn spiders into zombies

Scientists at the University of British Columbia have accidentally discovered a horrifying fact about a species of bee living in the Amazon forest . This species of bee completely turns other spiders into zombies and controls them. According to the author of the study, Mr. Philippe Fernandez-Fournier said: "The manipulation of spider behavior by bees has been seen before, but the level of Zatypota wasp on Anelosimus eximius spider is unprecedented . "

The Zatypota wasp lays eggs inside the body of the Anelosimus eximius spider. (Photo: Star Inder).

He also shared that during the research process, about 25 species of social spiders were discovered. He found that they all lived together in a large territory, hunting together. However, some spiders, after being infected with parasites, showed strange actions such as leaving the community and spinning a cocoon around themselves.

After investigating, the team found that the Zatypota wasp (a genus of wasps) had laid eggs inside the body of the Anelosimus eximius spider. The wasp larvae turned the spider into a zombie and manipulated the spider to "commit suicide", before completely "consuming" the spider to become an adult. This study was published in the scientific journal Ecological Entomology.

2. Fireflies glow to trick their mates.

Fireflies are small beetles that are capable of emitting light. They are usually nocturnal. Males usually have wings and can fly, while many female species are wingless. Fireflies can emit light thanks to a chemical reaction called bioluminescence. The enzyme luciferase acts on luciferin, in the presence of magnesium ions, ATP and oxygen to produce light.

Female fireflies of the genus Photuris often mimic the flashing light of other fireflies in order to hunt for prey. (Photo: Baidu)

It was originally thought that fireflies flashed for warning purposes, but later studies showed that it was to help fireflies select mates. Some species, notably fireflies in the genera Photinus, Photuris, and Pyractomena, are distinguished by unique courtship flashes emitted by flying males in search of females. Females of the genus Photinus are flightless, but can flash to attract males of the same species.

Female Photuris fireflies in particular mimic the flickering light of other fireflies for hunting purposes. They often hunt smaller male Photinus fireflies. The males are attracted to them and think they are their mates, but unfortunately when they get there, they are eaten.

2. Orchid "tricks" wasps

Orchids mimic the scent of female bees to "seduce" male bees. (Photo: Baidu).

According to researchers at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, orchids are the only plants that trick male wasps into having sex with them. Orchids try to disguise themselves as female wasps to lure lost wasps. To make it harder for wasps to detect their disguise, orchids even produce a female-like scent to lure male wasps.

The main purpose of orchids is for male wasps to carry their pollen on their bodies and pollinate other flowers. Interestingly, the wasps were tricked into pollinating five different species of orchids, all of which belong to the Cryptostylis group.

3. Gut flora controls humans

Gut flora often influences human behavior. (Photo: Baidu).

It may be hard to believe, but the community of microorganisms that live in our guts may be influencing our entire physiology. Scientists at the University of Oxford have found mounting evidence that gut bacteria, particularly those in the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium families, may influence social behavior, anxiety, stress, and depressive symptoms.

In the study, supplementation with the probiotic strain Lactobacillus improved social behavior in stressed mice, while mice that did not receive the probiotic showed impaired social behavior. In humans, gut bacteria influence our behavior for their own benefit. For example, they can cause humans to change their eating behavior to feed gut bacteria, creating opportunities for the bacteria to spread to new hosts.