|
The
species has evolved coping strategies including physical
adaptations, such as a coating of dense hairs, thought to trap air
during its regular submersion every twelve hours. Over evolutionary
time this wasp has lost its wings as they would increase the chance
of it being blown away from its specialised habitat on the sea
shore. Wing loss also facilitates the process of gaining entry into,
or escaping out of the silken egg sac in which the spider eggs that
the wasp parasitizes are laid. Body shape of the wasp needs to be
streamlined so as not to catch onto the silk strands.
Photograph © Simon van
Noort |
