Chapter 9
There is a type of insect called the emerald cockroach wasp.
It is absolutely nothing like the wasps of the yellow and black kind.
The emerald cockroach wasp is the green colour its name suggests.
It’s also venomous. It doesn’t use its venom on humans but, again as its name suggests, on cockroaches.
First, when it attacks, it injects its venom into the front legs of the cockroach, disabling it, so it can’t run.
The cockroach is immobilised. Phase one complete.
The wasp then injects a second serving of venom through the cockroach’s head into its brain.
The cockroach cannot think. Phase two complete.
Then, for reasons unknown to science, the cockroach begins to groom itself mindlessly, as if making itself as beautiful as it can for its master.
Then the wasp, like a band captain, leads the cockroach and the cockroach follows because it can no longer act independently now or ever again.
Onward they march to the wasps’ burrow and down underground. Once there the wasp lays an egg right on top of the zombie-like cockroach.
One single egg.
The wasp exits the burrow and seals the cockroach inside. A living entombment.
When the egg eventually hatches on top of the paralysed-but-still-living cockroach, the squirmy wasp larva begins to feast. A live meal for the newborn.
By the time the larva has finished its meal over many days it is practically fully grown. It digs its way out of the burrow and comes out into the world all shiny and emerald green.
It has an immediate need.
It must do what it was born to do. It must complete its life’s work.
Without delay, ruthlessly and determinedly, it begins looking for a cockroach.