AOG Day 12

“Here we are at the Final Round for the Individual Sting and Snap Competition. All of our competitors are Common Thread-waisted Wasps. I’ll say their Genus/Species only this once, slowly: Erem-no-phila Aureo-not-ata. Try saying that ten times fast! Don’t bother because it’s impossible, I tried. I’ve said it once and that’s enough. If you’re not familiar with this event, let me explain. It may be too graphic for some of you so if you’re squeamish in any way I would turn down the volume of your device until I give you the thumbs-up signal to return. Please do so now. Our athletes will dig a burrow somewhere in the sandy outskirts of the Flower Arena. They will then seek, sting, and paralyze an unsuspecting caterpillar, and drag or carry the terrified victim back to its subterranean lair. Next, the athlete will lay eggs on top of or beside the still-alive victim, before leaving and sealing off the den. The athlete must then cross the Finish Line to stop the clock. Those who achieve all steps in the fastest times will be declared our top finishers. Before you ask let me be clear that no one needs to fret about those eggs. The AOG Committee has agreed not to bother the larva hidden underground. They are safe and will have enough food to sustain them (remember the poor caterpillar) until adulthood. When they emerge they could aspire to becoming an Olympic Champion. These larva are our future! No need to mention that all of our competitors today are female. While they do all the hard work their male counterparts are only needed for mating. The rest of the time they’ll hangout at the Flower Bar drinking nectar. What a life! Okay, I think it’s safe now to signal the more sensitive among us to join in. Thumbs up to you all!”