One of the delightful things about the hymenoptera—the wasps, bees, ants, and termites—is that many different species remain unknown to science. There are times when it seems frustrating to live in a world where most life forms have been categorized and collected, however the fact that some of the hymenoptera make their homes in the most isolated tropical wilderness means that vividly distinctive (and hitherto unknown) bees, wasps, and ants are found from time to time. Last week an entomologist exploring the remote rainforests of Sulawesi discovered a new species of immense predatory wasps with jaws longer than its front legs. The predatory wasp is shiny black with evil gothic barbs running along its abdomen. Although the wasp’s habits and behavior are still unknown, its size and its formidable jaws would seem to indicate that it is a predator.
Lynn Kimsey, director of the Bohart Museum of Entomology and professor of entomology at the University of California, Davis, discovered the wasp as part of a biodiversity expedition to the remote forests of Sulawesi. She plans to name the wasp after the Garuda, an eagle-like divine being from Hindu legend which is associated with speed and martial prowess (and with the constellation Aquila). The Garuda is admired and known in many different myths from Southeast Asia but it is particularly associated with Indonesia—and has become something of a national symbol
Sulawesi, the fourth largest island of Indonesia has long been an ecological treasure trove thanks to multiple isolated peninsulas (complicated geology has given the island has an unlikely shape), impassible mountains, and huge wet forests located only a few degrees from the equator.
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August 29, 2011 at 10:05 PM
Diana
I love it when scientists are cool and know about religious figures/characters from fables.
August 31, 2011 at 12:07 PM
Hieronymo
Yeah “garuda” suits that wasp. I think I might have named it “Buto Cakil” after the ogre from the traditional shadow puppet “flower battle” segment. My grandfather had a Buto Cakil mask in his kitchen that frightened me so much he had take it down.
September 1, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Diana
Yikes. Yes that would definitely be appropriate!
August 30, 2011 at 6:03 PM
Diana
PS Something fun! 🙂 http://www.theonion.com/articles/if-i-go-extinct-i-swear-i-will-take-as-many-humans,21250/
August 31, 2011 at 11:51 AM
Hieronymo
Wow that butterfly is as angry as he is beautiful! Here’s a picture of a Karner Blue trying to rip somebody’s finger off (at least I suspect that is what’s being depicted).
September 1, 2011 at 11:52 AM
Diana
Hahha
August 30, 2011 at 8:06 PM
Ted C. MacRae
That’s an impressive wasp – the face shot reminds me of North America’s largest tiger beetle, Amblycheila cylindriformis.
August 31, 2011 at 11:42 AM
Hieronymo
Wow! You have really mastered insect portraiture! Thank you for the link.
Did your tiger beetles ever lay eggs?
August 31, 2011 at 12:08 PM
Ted C. MacRae
Sadly no – I do have a larva that I collected in the field and am hoping it eventually emerges as an adult. Pics definitely if that happens!
September 26, 2012 at 7:34 AM
Beatrix
“Garuda’ means eagle in Sanskrit.
Thailand uses Garuda as a national symbol also.
In certain traditions of Buddhist mythology there are great cities & kingdoms of Garudas which are often warring with the Nagas ( a chimeric race with snake or dragon like features as well as human)
Garuda is the traditional vahana of Lord Vishnu in Hinduism. Images of Garuda are often worn by Hindus as a charm or talisman to ward off snake bite, (Garuda is said to feed solely upon snakes). Despite being an enemy of snakes Garuda is usually portrayed wearing snakes on his wrists, in his hair, as a necklace, as earrings and as a belt.
There is a quite stunning stone statue of Garuda adorning the Dasavatara temple in Kathmandu’s Durbar Square (aka Hanuman Dhoka) dating to the 17th century.
Garuda seems to be quite popular in Mongolia as he is considered to be a guardian spirit of the Bogd Khan Uul mountain range.
I’ve also ridden on Garuda Airlines in Indonesia.