The Emerald wasp uses a unique strategy to reproduce, targeting cockroaches as hosts. It injects a special poison into the cockroach's brain, neutralizing its sense of self-preservation and allowing the wasp to control its movements. The cockroach is then led to the wasp's lair, where it is used as an incubator for the wasp's larva. The poison, which contains compounds similar to dopamine, puts the cockroach in a state of euphoria and reduces its metabolism, prolonging its life for about 10 days.
Cockroaches have developed defense mechanisms against the wasp's attack, including using martial arts-like tactics to fend off the wasp. However, if the wasp's poison reaches the cockroach's brain, no defense mechanism can save it.
The video also explores other examples of mind control in nature, including a psychedelic mushroom that infects cicadas and forces them to mate, and a parasitoid wasp that changes the behavior of a spider to create a strong web for its cocoon.
The Emerald wasp's strategy is not unique, with about 130 other species of wasps using similar manipulation techniques. The video also touches on the idea that the brain is just a collection of neurons that can be turned on or off, and that this concept can be applied to humans as well, as seen in the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation to control human movements.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The Emerald wasp uses a special poison to control cockroaches.
2. The poison targets certain areas of the cockroach's brain responsible for self-preservation.
3. The wasp uses the cockroach as a living incubator to reproduce.
4. There are about 130 species of wasps that use a similar strategy to control insects.
5. Cockroaches are resistant creatures and can become incubators for the Emerald wasp.
6. The Emerald wasp chooses cockroaches as its prey because they are several times larger than the wasp.
7. The wasp uses a special poison to paralyze the cockroach's front legs before injecting the poison into its brain.
8. The poison contains compounds similar to dopamine, causing the cockroach to enter a state of euphoria and total absence of anxiety.
9. The cockroach's metabolism slows down, prolonging its life for up to 10 days.
10. The Emerald wasp larva takes about seven days to hatch.
11. Cockroaches have developed four basic defense tactics to prevent wasps from taking over them.
12. The wasp's venom works in a similar way to transcranial magnetic stimulation, which can be used to relieve symptoms of depression and improve mood.
13. Electric impulses can be used to control not only depression but also other bodily functions, such as limb movement.
14. A device that uses electrical impulses to control bodily functions can be purchased freely, but its use is not recommended.
15. A psychedelic mushroom can infect cicadas and control their behavior, forcing them to mate and spread the fungus's spores.
16. Some parasites, such as the agriotype wasp, need a host's body to reproduce.
17. A parasitoid wasp from Costa Rica can change the behavior of a spider, forcing it to create a strong web to support the wasp's cocoon.