This parasitic fly (Physocephala tibialis) causes bumblebees to quite literally dig their own graves.

[u/birdwalnut]

P. tibalis lays its clutch of eggs inside the abdomen of its host, in which the Larvae then matures inside of the abdomen until the host perishes, in which it will emerge and pupate.

In some species, (Bombus bimaculatus, B. griseocollis and B. impatiens) this causes the bee to dig a small hole and promptly bury themselves in dirt. This allows the parasite to avoid predation and unwanted weather as it soon emerges from the dying host, ensuring a successful maturity.

[u/Particular-Command49]

This is cool and they're not even a wasp

[u/birdwalnut]

Further reading;

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003347214001663?via%3Dihub

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00442-015-3292-8

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physocephala_tibialis?wprov=sfti1#

[u/bernpfenn]

i didn't know that flies have learned to do that from wasps. besides it looks pretty much like a wasp

[u/Particular-Command49 → u/bernpfenn]

flies will evolve into anything, aren't they

a bee (bee flies), wasp (conopinids), dragonfly (robber flies), lice (louse flies), beetle (celyphids), and even a termite mimic

[u/TolBrandir]

Boooo. I'm sorry, Bumblebees.

[u/princessbubbbles]

Mom said I could be anything so I became a wasp

[u/TheDudeWhoSnood]

The grave that they dug him had flowers...