99-Million-Year-Old Wasp With Venus Flytrap-Like Abdomen Identified as New Insect Family

Preserved in amber from Myanmar, Sirenobethylus charybdis reveals a unique parasitoid strategy and evolutionary adaptations in the mid-Cretaceous period.

Researchers analyzed 16 female specimens of Sirenobethylus charybdis preserved in 99-million-year-old amber from Myanmar's Kachin region.
The wasp's abdomen features a unique, three-flap structure resembling a Venus flytrap, likely used to trap prey during egg-laying.
This extinct species has been classified into a new insect family, Sirenobethylidae, within the Chrysidoidea superfamily.
The discovery highlights a greater diversity of parasitoid strategies in ancient insects compared to modern Chrysidoidea species.
Ethical concerns about amber sourcing from Myanmar's politically unstable Kachin region accompany the study's findings.