The Emerald Cockroach Wasp is a jewel-like metallic green wasp famous for performing neurosurgery on cockroaches: it injects venom with precision into specific brain regions to produce a docile 'zombie cockroach' it then leads by the antennae to its burrow as live food for its larvae. This remarkable predatory strategy has made it a subject of extensive neurobiological research.
Best time to see a Emerald Cockroach Wasp
The best time to see a Emerald Cockroach Wasp is July–November, when about 60% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 233 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Emerald Cockroach Wasp? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Emerald Cockroach Wasp sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
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