4.3 So, What’s in This Venom Which Makes It So Powerful?

The venom of the emerald cockroach wasp contains a complex mixture of neurotoxins that specifically target the nervous system of its cockroach host. These components work together to achieve the remarkable effect of paralysing the cockroach and altering its behaviour. The venom is composed of several key elements:

• Dopamine and Octopamine Modulation: The venom interferes with the normal functioning of dopamine and octopamine, neurotransmitters that control movement and behaviour in insects. By blocking these signals, the cockroach becomes sluggish and passive.

• GABA, Taurine, and β-Alanine: These substances in the venom inhibit the cockroach’s ability to move by targeting the insect’s central nervous system. GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is a common neurotransmitter that, when disrupted, affects motor control. This leaves the cockroach unable to escape.

• Selective Brain Damage: The venom specifically targets and damages neurons in the cockroach’s brain responsible for initiating motion, but it leaves the vital functions intact. This allows the wasp to keep the cockroach alive, but fully controlled, for its offspring to consume, i.e. keeping the cockroach whilst dampening its autonomy.

• Calcium Channel Blockers: Some components in the venom act as calcium channel blockers, disrupting normal synaptic transmission in the nervous system. This prevents the cockroach from mounting a coordinated response to escape.