'King Of Wasps': New Giant Wasp Species Discovered By Scientists In Indonesia

'King Of Wasps' Species Discovered In Indonesia

A team of scientists working collaboratively in Indonesia, Germany and the United States have revealed a new species of giant wasp native to Indonesia.

The megalara garuda, about which little is known, is technically a member of the digger wasp variety, but has a few key variations that warrant it being classified in its own species.

Lynn Kimsey, of the University of California, and Michael Ohl from Berlin's Museum für Naturkunde, both discovered the insect separately and have since worked together on investigating the creature.

As well as the bug's unusually large body, the male variety has an enormous set of pincer-like jaws, while the females are known to prey for food for their young, paralysing victims with its sting.

However, as the species has not yet been seen alive, much of its mannerisms and more complex biology remains unknown.

The species was found on an expedition to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and also, coincidentally, deep in the insect collections of the Museum für Naturkunde, where it had been since the 1930s.

Another species recently discovered is a breed of scorpion, pictured below, only 16mm in length, which glows under ultraviolet light.

The miniscule creature was discovered in Nevada's Inyo Mountains by PhD student Matthew Graham and his father.

Although scorpions are incredibly common in the area, Graham found that his discovery was unique enough to be considered a new variety.

Graham examined the scorpion at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where he studies, watched over by research professor Dr. Jef Jaeger, who said that Graham's was only one of many new smaller animals to have been discovered in North America.

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