JERUSALEM, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Scientists from Israel, Germany, and the U.S. have uncovered an unusual way in which a species of wasp passes beneficial bacteria to its offspring, not via eggs, but through its venom, the University of Haifa said in a statement on Sunday.

The research, published in Current Biology, examined the Spalangia cameroni wasp, a species of parasitic wasp that feeds on houseflies. Unlike most insects, which transfer helpful bacteria to their young through eggs, this wasp's venom gland contains the bacterium Sodalis SC.

When the wasp stings a developing fly pupa, the bacterium travels with the venom. The wasp then lays its egg on the pupa, and the hatching larva consumes the pupa, along with the bacteria.

This marks the first documented instance of bacteria being transmitted through venom, rather than eggs.

The discovery highlights how bacteria can adapt to thrive in unexpected environments, such as venom, and provides insight into the co-evolution of microbes and animals. Enditem

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