Emerald Cuckoo Wasp Stilbum cyanurum

This jeweled wasp practices one of nature's most brazen reproductive strategies: sneaking into the nests of other insects to lay eggs, leaving unsuspecting hosts to unwittingly raise their young. As metallic beauties flaunting brilliant emerald and blue hues, they're among nature's most colorful parasites. But stunning appearance masks a cunning con—the "cuckoo" name perfectly captures their strategy. They slip into a host's nest, deposit their egg, and vanish while the host parent provides food, warmth, and protection for a parasitic interloper.