Published February 26, 2021
| Version v1
Journal article
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Stings in humans by a parasitoid wasp of the genus Sclerodermus (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) in Venezuela
Authors/Creators
- 1. Director de Expediciones, Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales; Miembro Correspondiente, Academia de Ciencias Físicas, Matemáticas y Naturales, Caracas, Venezuela
- 2. Fundación Explora, Caracas, Venezuela
- 3. Austin Achieve Public Schools, Austin, Texas; Research Associate, McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, USA
Description
Bethylidae wasps are very diverse. They range from small to medium-sized, and are commonly known as flat wasps. They have the property of inoculating an anesthetic that paralyzes their host, which is later taken as food for the wasp’s offspring. This flat wasp species appears to be Sclerodermus nr. domesticus and can easily sting the bearer multiple times. Its sting is efficient, powerful, and painful to humans. As far as we know, the genus Sclerodermus is mentioned for Venezuela for the first time. Health workers should be aware of the possible risks of exposure to this tiny wasps.