Scientists Astounded After Discovering Mummified 'Eyeless' Wasp in Nullarbor Cave
Caves have always been intriguing subjects for investigation, as their conditions can cause a unique set of adaptations in their inhabitants. Recently, researchers uncovered a first-of-its-kind wasp species in the Nullarbor cave system in Australia, as reported by IFL Science. This species was eyeless and is the only known wasp in the world to have this feature. The creature adopted this feature due to living inside the cave system. Researchers were stunned to find this wasp and other invertebrate species in such a well-preserved condition. This particular species belongs to the family of spider wasps or "Pompillidae."
Discovery of Eyeless Wasp
The cave system in Australia had long been speculated to hold a treasure trove of creatures. "I'd heard from cavers that this cave contained a lot of mummified invertebrate specimens, but I wasn't prepared for the sheer diversity and number of them, and that all of the ones I examined were eyeless," Dr Jess Marsh from the University of Adelaide said. Certain specimens were found mummified, stuck to the walls, indicating that they took their last breaths while climbing it. It seemed that they were "frozen in action." A common aspect in all the specimens Marsh inspected was "eyelessness."
"The one that stands out most was the wasp. I was around 1.5 km into the cave, crawling through a passage, when I noticed a different-looking insect on a rock. It was a wasp, with really small wings, long legs, long antennae, and no eyes. I had a feeling when I saw it that this was something really special. It is the only known cave-adapted wasp in the world," Marsh added. "It was unlike any wasp I’d ever seen," Marsh said, according to InDaily. The wasp caught her attention, as the insect's presence felt unusual. After carefully taking it outside, she gave it to a colleague for analysis, who determined that the specimen had no eyes.
Features of the Unique Creature
Further examinations of the mummified fossil indicated that the wasp was male, had no functional eyes, reduced wings, as well as heavily elongated legs and antennae. These adaptations aided them in thriving in the cave's harsh conditions. At present, further analysis is going on to determine the specimen's age. The insect is yet to be taxonomically described by the researchers, according to ABC News. Experts described it as small, sporting a length of 2 centimetres, and reddish, with translucent wings. Along with the wasp, experts also found spiders, centipedes, cockroaches, and other insects in the cave system. Most of these invertebrate species did not survive inside the cave, and researchers believed that some world-ending cataclysm occurred a certain number of years ago.
Researchers are excited about various implications that could come their way through the cave. However, the one that they are most ecstatic about is the potential relationship that existed between blind arachnids and the wasp. "It's a really interesting story if they've both evolved to a cave-adapted lifestyle where they've lost their eyes independently but are linked through parasitism," Marsh said. Matt Shaw, a collection manager at the Australian Museum and not part of this expedition, believes that the discovery of spiders and wasps with such features is fantastic for science, as such creatures could reveal a lot about evolution.
More Discoveries and Future Steps
During the exploration of the cave system, researchers detected a new living species of cave-adapted spider. This particular species is only found in this cave system, at least in Australia. Currently, the experts are eagerly waiting for the results of radiocarbon dating. If the species belong to the same period, then that would mean an event caused them to crowd inside the cave. If they are from different periods, this would imply that the invertebrates coexisted with each other. However, Marsh and her team have some theories. They believe that, based on the position in which they were found, "frozen in action," suggests that a gas event or a series of gas events brought the population's end.