第 0979 号，共 1 402 张

Paulista wasp

Polybia paulista

只是会疼会疼，但不会对你造成严重伤害。

蜇伤吃：什么都来一点

The Paulista wasp is a social wasp that lives in colonies of thousands of wasps. It is found in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. Scientists are studying its venom because some of its peptides (small protein-like molecules) may one day help treat cancer and epilepsy.1

生活在

Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina; especially common in São Paulo, Brazil1

南美洲

首页

It lives in tropical areas and builds its nests where they are protected from weathering. Up to three colonies can share the same location, and swarms appear from time to time.1

长度

1.1 cm (0.4 in)3

典型成年个体大小

最高速度

约 22 公里/小时（14 英里/小时）

飞行, 粗略估计

它吃什么？

Workers forage for water, plant fibre or pulp, animal protein and carbohydrates. Animal protein is used to feed the larvae, and adults feed mainly on cactus fruits when these are plentiful.1

Paulista wasp的照片 — Paulista wasp。照片：Douglas。 CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist.

怎样认出它

Lives in a colony with a division of labour between young, middle-aged and older wasps1
Builds a nest with combs and envelopes, which are fixed to a surface1
Forms a tight cluster of wasps on the outside of a new nest while the inside has little room1
Found in tropical areas of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina1

毒液之力

蜇伤

毒液通过蜇刺出来。

它的毒液会造成什么？

The venom contains several peptides. These cause pain, swelling (oedema) and haemolysis, which means they break down red blood cells. They also trigger an inflammatory response, which causes physical discomfort.1

它对人有多危险？

对人的危险: 很疼可能真的很疼，但几乎从不严重。

它害怕时会做什么？

Wasps use venom to defend themselves and their colony against predators, and workers defend the nest.1

如果它蜇人

刮掉蜜蜂的蜇针，冷敷患处。
如果这个人呼吸困难、脸或喉咙肿胀，或感觉要晕倒，这是过敏急症：拨打急救电话，如果他们有肾上腺素笔就使用。

一定先拨打你的急救电话（112、000、911）。这里是一般急救指导，不是医疗建议。急救基础

注意安全

永远不要摸、抓或逗弄野生动物，即使是很小的，即使它看起来在睡觉或已经死了。
给它留出空间。如果遇到它，保持冷静，慢慢后退，让它走自己的路。
如果被它蜇了：保持冷静，保持不动，拨打你的急救电话（112、000、911）或尽快去医院。记住它长什么样，拍张照片会有帮助。

它不是冲着你来的。它用毒液捕猎或保护自己，而且它更愿意躲起来。更多安全知识

在世界哪里？

非洲亚洲欧洲北美洲南美洲澳大利亚和大洋洲

它有多大？

它有多长？

小到能坐在你的指甲上17 秒就能飞过一整个足球场

Paulista wasp和你比起来有多大？

只是在你的浏览器里算一算。什么都不会被保存或发送到任何地方。

它有多快？

一只家蝇 约 7 公里/小时 (4.4 mph)

Paulista wasp 约 22 公里/小时 (14 mph)

一个全力冲刺的人 约 37 公里/小时 (23 mph)

值得了解

事实

A peptide in the venom, called Polybia-MP1, kills cancer cells while leaving healthy cells intact, according to research so far. Further studies are needed to confirm it is safe as a chemotherapy drug.1

The venom contains mastoparan, which has been shown to inhibit the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the cause of Chagas disease.1

Workers cool the nest by fanning their wings and spreading water on the combs, so the water evaporates and lowers the temperature.1

Colonies can contain from 10 to 94 queens, because young queens are constantly recruited.1

A colony can hold about 4,500 wasps during its early stage, and up to 13,000 wasps while males are being produced.1

给毒液专家

学名: Polybia paulista
类别: 蜜蜂、胡蜂和大黄蜂
家人: Vespidae2
排序: Hymenoptera
大洲: 南美洲
宝宝: Queens lay eggs that develop into workers throughout the year, and they store sperm to fertilise the eggs.1
对人的危险: 2 / 5: 很疼3