These Caterpillars Never Stood a Chance Against the Bodysnatcher Wasp | Trials Of Life | BBC Earth

[@murmurrrr]

What did we learn today? You definitely do not want to be a catterpillar.

[@lynx_32]

typo imao XD

[@bontronblock]

Or anything but a human... duhhh. Lame comment

[@moonlight-mr4qc]

What a blesd human not any kind of insects or animals 😕.

[@aliciaspringer2771]

@@bontronblock no it is not lame, what if u wanted to be a bear with a gun

[@-Folk]

@@aliciaspringer2771 It is lame lol. Might is right/survival of the fittest/only the strong survive = These are sayings for a reason lol its a Natural Law. Which actually means more in reality then the ones you willingly follow created by Men. At least being a weak Human come in the form of Bullying/Harrasment cause by the law of the real world you DIE for being weak & only duty I do being food so the strong survives longer

[@LushDanielSon]

I’m going to take this moment to appreciate being human because holy cow that’s terrifying!

[@Kuolonen]

... I don't know how to break this to you, but there are wasps that lay eggs into humans as well, given the chance.

[@theGreaterAwareness]

Well, humans have similar things with human trafficking. The media just doesn't cover it but kids can wake up to a world of slavery or cannibalism despite living the dream the day before. All countries seem to have this same network of traffickers.

[@aulendilthegreat873]

@@theGreaterAwareness how does human trafficking compare to having your insides devoured alive by maggots which a wasp injected into your body?

[@deeya]

@@Kuolonen I thought those were Bot-flies? Haven't heard of wasps successfully reproducing in humans.

[@soyderiverdeliverybeaver8941]

@@Kuolonen you can easly remove those, the worst part would be getting stung

[@MarkWTK]

luckily i wasn't born a caterpillar

[@diversity7057]

You going to take that mark?

[@evergreen3604]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/moClgaupgJlmns0

[@Obisp2]

天吉Mark 😂😂😂👊🏼

[@Mercymurv]

or a chicken, or fish, or pig, or cow, or goat ...

[@roseforyoubabe]

@@illustriousmonster haha!!

[@weidwingelobjegdiv]

Someone at BBC realised they have an arvchive

[@DarkraiNewmoon]

I thought that was called the furnace room?

[@Gegondrein]

BBC-BigBlackCok

[@nightlightabcd]

@@DarkraiNewmoon - What?

[@nightlightabcd]

@@Gegondrein - What?

[@nightlightabcd]

What?

[@jameswhiteley6843]

Love the bit where the Wasp takes the caterpillar out of David's hand.

[@MsAmber82]

The wasp is like "Hey human, you did not parasite him yet? Can I? Thanks!"

[@loki9943]

That was so crazy ion see why there arent more comments on it

[@monke.2191]

🛎

[@Xalerdane]

“Sweet, a freebie!”

[@aryastark3148]

All the little caterpillars wanted was to chill and to nom the leaves :'(

[@TheBest-ud9bd]

True, but if left to their own devices the caterpillars would likely nom the leaves to death. It's for the best that wasps nom a few caterpillars too~

[@smackyfrog6046]

All bugs must die

[@BL3H-]

@@TheBest-ud9bd true.

[@TheBest-ud9bd]

@@smackyfrog6046 If all bugs die all humans would die, too. So if you happen to be a cartoon supervillain that's an admirable goal~

[@chococookie2181]

All the leaves wanted was to chill and produce food :'(

[@patstokes3615]

If David Attenborough is willing to talk, I'm willing to listen.

[@devilliersduplessis7904]

Unless its about climate change, hes a bit extreme on those views

[@pham887]

I agree.

[@LitoBish]

Here, all ye good people

[@bontronblock]

Then stfu.

[@hunterjenkins11]

Jeremy Irons is great too. But yeah, Attenborough for surough.

[@nikerailfanningttm9046]

1:37 the wasp is like: "thank you David! you saved me 5 minutes of searching!"

[@santasangre996]

5 minutes in a wasp life, that's like what? 6 months in human years? David really came through here

[@roboppi6368]

It's so fascinating that they instinctively know how to do all this cool and vital stuff. They're not taught. It's so amazing.

[@JulieWallis1963]

* Roboppi * as a newborn baby _you_ knew how to breath, suckle, blink, cough and sneeze! Nature is pretty awesome.

[@yearginclarke]

@@JulieWallis1963 Very true, I never quite thought of that. But it's amazing how insects and animals know exactly what to do without learning it, as some of their activities are kind of complex with very specific details.

[@Moldylocks]

@@yearginclarke Even more impressive in my opinion are the octopus. They are for the most part solitary hunters and incredibly intelligent. They are taught absolutely nothing from their parents. In fact some octopus mother lay their eggs in some crevasse and then simply just stay with the eggs until she dies. When the small octo-babies are born they are on their own, and somehow many of them survive and even thrive in the seas. Compared to a human baby that needs 18 years to become a legal adult, and probably around 30 years to be an actual adult. And there are even humans that never grow out of childhood, just look at twitter.

[@yearginclarke]

@@Moldylocks Lmao at the twitter observation, so true! But yeah, I didn't know that about octopus. Nature is amazing, very fascinating.

[@boredwarlock5216]

Sr. David is an global treasure. Cherish him

[@robertoarmstrong7317]

After reading the title I was willing to give the wasp the benefit of the doubt.. however this footage is quite incriminating..

[@joejitsu034]

Lmao That’s a slam dunk all day mate.

[@Alb410]

These are all solitary wasps. As a result they don't really sting humans because its not worth it tge way hive wasps can.

[@IDMYM8]

Caterpillars: *Exists Wasps: It's free real estate

[@wizzlesticks]

When the pupae emerged from the caterpillar, I needed Alien sound effects of the chest plate snapping as the Alien broke its way out, then violently hissing at its host in a display of victory.

[@pepito69]

Alien was all I could think about when he first said they lay their eggs in them

[@BelleRiverHeating]

the Alien film was also based on the dragon fly nymph with its lower extruding mandible.

[@anselmrd2638]

Imagine dancing outside your house before going for groceries to return back safely

[@AllonKirtchik]

Imagine your groceries being a whole sedated cow you drag in

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

That last part is creepy. Wow never heard of these wasps. The more you know

[@paulohenriqueferreiradealm1893]

They werre literally the first inspiration for the Alien.

[@karenbrown4524]

@@paulohenriqueferreiradealm1893 I was going to write the same thought, Paulo! Look to nature for thrills and chills!

[@paulohenriqueferreiradealm1893]

@@karenbrown4524 A woman of culture, I see.

[@Raison_d-etre]

Richard Dawkins.

[@solountipomas8616]

Avispas imperialistas...

[@doodlydoo3935]

1:36 Wasp: "Hey, yo man, you ain't eating that caterpillar? Can I have it? Aight thanks."

[@smittyvanjagermanjenson182]

First time seeing david pop up in person in one of these clips, wasnt ready for that mind blowing moment lol

[@IamEsaias]

“I don’t feel so good” 3:03

[@jaredolson7543]

That's what I was thinking.

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

*Wasp Grubs Bursting out of Caterpillar:* "...Hello my baby! Hello my honey! Hello my rag time gal!" *Caterpillar, looking down:* "Oooooh noooo. Not again!"

[@Stratelier]

Waiter, check please!

[@hotice8885]

LOL!!!! __Everybody do the Michigan RAAAaaaaag_ !!!

[@nikerailfanningttm9046]

0:12 the first wasp: "hmmm his burrow is empty, I got dibs on it!" *the original builder of the burrow returns* the original builder wasp: "you messed with the wrong burrow fool!"

[@gigaroom]

wasp speedrun: caterpillar route sub 2 weeks

[@Poseidon6363]

Sir David Attenborough, you will never be forgotten

[@petrifiedmoth7317]

''Stop moving around let me lay my eggs in you dammit!''

[@Kaoss134]

"Hey, that tasted pretty good! Is there anymore?" --Wasps, probably

[@hhorsley3268]

Wasp mum: my burrow is complete! Time for the ceremonial happy dance 💁💃

[@errafayabderrahim]

Clear, precise and short documentary commented by the captivating way that can exist. Thank you BBC thank you Mr. David Attenborourg

[@francisjames6996]

I bought these VHS tapes back in the day. The Trials of Life

[@danielthesantos]

Cool! I'm considering looking for the dvds

[@tolulopeakadiri2334]

😫

[@gordonferrar7782]

I love those grainy episodes of Attenborough from the 70s and 80s. Nothing like them.

[@DoodOverThere]

Got me all itchy near the end, not gonna lie...

[@Hmongboi228]

It's not the clip, it's your monthly herpes coming back... ;)

[@sacrore9]

DoodOverThere me no

[@YldMaine]

Me too! LMAO..... I felt disgusting as fxxk. XD I kept checking myself....

[@preciousgrace7692]

Same

[@reygieflorestv13]

David attenborough is the best narrator i ever heard.

[@NyhnaLaw]

Mind literally blown. Nature is CRAZY COOL!

[@greeenjeeens]

'These caterpillars are also doomed' What a line.

[@KittyCatGamer]

“When the tunnel is full, she seals it with special care.” *proceeds to kick dirt over hole top with back legs*

[@JM-vz6ok]

That wasp is a better parent than some humans x.x

[@Bennysbaked]

1:05 caterpillar: Bruh

[@ahmadsherbeny5609]

03:27 This makes Alien movies a kids cartoon !

[@ennuimustdie]

3:00 The music fits well here.

[@AKSBSU]

A lot of horror directors who are probably thought of as creatively brilliant probably just watch parasitic wasp and worm documentary videos.

[@k-leb4671]

I hope these wasps were paid in royalties.

[@AKSBSU]

@Not Alfie I don't think you're great at comprehending sarcasm or nuances of language if you took that comment as 100% serious at face value.

[@yahsworld2940]

All art is based on reality.

[@Yiseia]

The first ones ith the long abdomen look strangely cute in the close-up shot on hat plant 0:46

[@AllonKirtchik]

Remember, our pests are her baby food And she’s not doing anything that much worse than what a falcon or owl would do

[@lotharvoeller]

Excellent video. The best: no jingle, no backpipe.

[@aconnagan3680]

The concept is more terrifying than any horror movie I've seen.

[@dconfused9919]

You havnt seen ALIENS "

[@GicN]

@@dconfused9919 yes wanted to say that too!!

[@ShawndaPrawn]

Caterpillars: (exist) Maternal wasps: COWABUNGA IT IS!

[@ethanotoroculus1060]

Say what you will about wasps, but the fact that they memorize their surroundings by dancing is really, really adorable.

[@firelight7718]

doesn't really make up for everything else

[@theworthysoul]

@@firelight7718 kinda does, considering wasps also are important pollinators and population control. They do more good than harm, we just hate them because they have a stinger.

[@porkch0p33]

Not dancing it leaving a chemical marker 👊

[@SirGoofyparrotfish]

Wasps are sometimes pollinators and being a hatred by humans

[@yahsworld2940]

Maybe there's something to be learned from that? Perhaps dancing in the area where you place an object can help you remember where you put it. No more lost car keys, lol

[@centipede167]

Old school David Attenborough right here!

[@Gothead420]

Fun fact: These wasps are even used in biological pest control...

[@bigshrekhorner]

Mhm, despite some people saying "Ohh, bad parasite, must be burned for killing poor cartepillars", let's remind ourselves that population control in nature is as important as pollinating, for the environment and humans alike (for the environment a surplus of a species equals a harmful imbalance, for people a destruction of agriculture [thus less food], especially when said species is herbivore)

[@xeroxcopy8183]

^You're not fooling anyone behind that computer, Praying Mantis

[@GreenHoleSun]

It's not fun, it's just a good idea...

[@Gothead420]

@@GreenHoleSun Good ideas _are_ fun to me. 😁

[@GreenHoleSun]

@@Gothead420 I see your point

[@seaflurry7232]

David: *holds caterpillar* Wasp: Is for me?

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

These wasps look great to use for my army

[@DeathsNitemareShepardOfHope]

God i miss "Trials of Life". I remember as a kid watching these episodes on TBS, it was when i first realized that i enjoyed the work of David Attenborough and have watched anything he works on.

[@borkingdoggouwuuwuw]

2:46 oh okay, so this is real life alien

[@thedeadbaby]

1:29 So they DO set encounters up for filming. Like that time they made wasps and ants attack each other.

[@buffymcmuffin5361]

"For that, she needs FRESH MEAT"

[@davidbates9206]

David Attenborough is a legend

[@DarkMiss]

Sir David is so young! Love these episodes,I wanna watch the whole thing!

[@DarkSektori]

I learned that it is possible to hand feed a wasp.

[@balthazarmayrena600]

Oh god, these wasps are diabolical. I'm curious to see how these butterflies/caterpillars evolved to defend themselves against these wasps.

[@johnhardman3]

I was drilling some holes in my door-frame: I left-off for a day and returned to find that a wasp was busy stopping-up one of the screw-holes with chewed-up wood. I left-off the job and kept an eye open for developments, until one day the screw-hole was open again and whatever had hatched inside had made a break for freedom. Wasps have also built small onion-shaped nests in my roof-space, probably the same ones that can be seen removing bits of wood from my neighbours' fence with their jaws. Admirable in a way, like the lengths the small orb-spiders go to in late summer to build their big webs right across my garden.

[@balthazarmayrena600]

@@johnhardman3 i felt uncomfortable reading this

[@Vinegaroon]

Some are very fuzzy it helps prevent wasps from stinging them. Others feast on toxic plants and become poisonous.

[@ivyngarner8905]

Some species have the protection of ants if they can produce the sweet substance for them

[@GuardianTiger]

Ikr but there is already a kind of caterpillar that will bite and tear off limbs from insects even a beatle

[@Outschmegede]

Wonderful Nature !!! And nice filming !

[@pegeonpera]

*Caterpillars* (as the Wasp injects it with her eggs) : _Am I a joke to you?_

[@wayofenergy]

Feels great to be on top of the food chain!!!

[@federicoortiz7657]

Simplemente impresionante. Yo todavía estoy buscando mis llaves

[@andisteinberger9652]

Amazing

[@jonathansanchez319]

😂imagine just chilling a kid with a caterpillar in your hand and a wasp just snatches it

[@ogloko]

Imagine being a caterpillar, going on with your life, and then boom…a wasp injects you with its eggs.

[@dacrimney]

2:39 im freaked out because i can see the caterpillar in this clip literally scream in pain...

[@nuocloc4295]

BBC! I'm following you because I've learnt so much about how to make a speech naturally. For example, I used to say "She seals it very carefully", but now I say "She seals it with special care". Or the phrase "a piece of small stone" is now replaced by "a grain of gravel"; "apparently unaffected" for "looking not very well"... So many, many thanks!

[@SinkEmQuicker]

2 years later this gets recommended to me. I’m sat here in shock at how young Sir David looks in this. It’s unsettling to think that he may be gone within an instant, with so many people ignoring his messages.

[@anyascelticcreations]

Nope. He's just going to have to stay here a good while longer.

[@kdochcevidi2511]

Thank You, Sir David.

[@jerryhamer]

Who would have thought a bug's life can be so entertaining

[@aestheticsmom]

i had one of these wasps crawl right past me about 1 ft away from my leg while i was out in the yard sitting on a blanket. the caterpiller it had was probably twice the length of the wasp so i guess thats why she was walking with it instead of flying lol. and taking a shortcut across my blanket as well. she dropped and picked it up several times to reconfigure her straddling it. its amazing this video was in my reccomended, now i know what happened to the caterpillar lol

[@aguilarealmorales8069]

How wonderful and cruel nature can be, so let's respect it, because if she could maybe do that to us and more. 😨

[@johnhardman3]

(To Aguila...) We do it to each other, one way or another.

[@DeansbuddyJesus]

“These cabbage white caterpillars .. are also doomed” Why did I laugh so hard 😂 poor little wrigglers

[@mickeyamf]

Female wasp: rearranges rock several times finally leaving it as it was..

[@Ga7cun7sSUCK]

@Mc Mermate you must be the life of the party? How many years now?......that you've been single.

[@firelight7718]

@@Ga7cun7sSUCK thats just mean

[@WhatsY0UTUB3]

@@Ga7cun7sSUCK He told a funny joke that 200 people though was funny. You complained. You are the annoying one sucking the life out of the party.

[@Ga7cun7sSUCK]

@@WhatsY0UTUB3 hey knob head the original poster was not the target of my comment you would realise that if you could comprehend the english language. Why don't you go and correct someone's grammar or spelling i hear woman love men who do that on the internet.

[@WhatsY0UTUB3]

@@Ga7cun7sSUCK yea sure buddy

[@SKKEarth]

Wow amazing footage my friend.great information

[@scharnhorst3005]

Caterpillar; im gonna be a beautiful butterfly. Wasp: hold my beer..

[@Moldylocks]

I think you misunderstood how to do hold my beer jokes.

[@mm_ental]

wasted opportunity

[@deafomega]

bugs are honestly amazing. all this impressive instinct contained in an exoskeleton full of goop

[@DrBLOOD1995]

Yeah and without them you can be sure that caterpillars would eat the entire vegetation, nature is doing it's job perfectly once again.

[@lolllama1504]

Sure bud

[@equinox3861]

That's dumb. Other creatures can eat the caterpillars in a less torturing way.

[@GNParty]

" p e r f e c t l y "

[@Rathbone_fan_account]

@@equinox3861 They don't feel the pain. You can't apply the notion of torture here.

[@equinox3861]

@@Rathbone_fan_account For one you're assuming that the concept of human pain translates the same in other organisms. Insects may perceive harmful stimuli in a manner different than we do, but is painful to them. Second, torture can be figurative just as someone can be "mentally tortured" although not in actual physical pain. Insects react to certain kinds of harmful stimuli so it's possible to say "they can suffer" as insects much like the rest of us try to stay alive at whatever capacity they can.

[@craigmutumbi9083]

That's the most amazing thing I've ever seen

[@TucsonDude]

As a engineer, I'm absolutely amazed at the "guidance mapping" of the wasp at 0:18. Not bad for a brain the size of a pinhead compared to the fist-sized electronics in my drones.

[@VictorFursov]

Thank you for interesting video. Best wishes!

[@hotice8885]

I saw the results of these wasps in my garden, years back. They were my *SOLDIERS* when it came to getting rid of the hornworms that were attacking my tomato plants. Meanwhile, the toads *viciously* took out the slugs that were eating spinach leaves.

[@emmalion1976]

You know you could just replace both with bullfrogs they kill them fast and without torture

[@hotice8885]

@@emmalion1976 , I wonder how bullfrogs would deal with hornworms that are six feet off the ground, upside down, on the undersides of leaves. But hey, if they can do it, I'm down!

[@kdochcevidi2511]

Thank You, sir David.

[@ancientpho]

How come no one is talking about how the wasp took that caterpillar off of his hand? That was pretty cool.

[@TFitz-nr1fn]

Attenborough so casually offers up a caterpillar to a horrible fate.

[@agentstick6842]

Something so insignificant is made significant by Mr Attenborough

[@dblaze4745]

I love BBS earth👍💖...

[@audreydrewpaul]

I am tired of these wasps coming in my room carrying caterpillars that i had to close my window in the daytime. Thanks for this video cause this whole time, i thought those caterpillars were their babies. I always remove their dirt holes underneath my table and even the curtains, and i always find some caterpillars in them. Great videos as always!

[@deepak2012able]

When i was little i broked many nestes of this fly , that made by mud, and i see the small spiders in it and in old nests the larvas there.

[@NovaRanger007]

Woah, young Sir David

[@Khalith]

Infinitely more terrifying than any horror movie.

[@CharlotteDrillsAndBeefs]

This didn't scare me one bit, are you a coward?

[@Michaelkaydee]

Such a young Attenborough

[@TheHumblePotato]

When you wish DVDs like this was sold at your local store...

[@smitty1647]

today i learned that dvds still exist

[@cairosilver2932]

2:25 Can someone add the doom music after David's narration

[@onii-chandaisuki5710]

'nature is beautiful' Insects: 'hold my eggs.'

[@luistavares9048]

Amazing thanks BBC

[@Vatsalu]

All corrupt politicians become caterpillers in their next life...

[@Vasiliy_Zaytsev]

Especially Putin

[@everettduncan7543]

@@Vasiliy_Zaytsev there's tons of people worse. Such as his puppets in the ME

[@shahzaibkhalid3817]

@@everettduncan7543 supporters of Indian and Israeli genocides against kashmiris and Palestinians (all western leaders) are top of the list

[@everettduncan7543]

@@shahzaibkhalid3817 hem too. And let us not forget the Taliban

[@TucsonDude]

Only if they are bribed by AIPAC.

[@Fester_]

I have bathed with Dettol since first watching his programs about egg in body laying. So far, I'm happy.

[@ItsJustChase]

Imagine seeing a scene like this in the movie Bugs life...

[@rocioaparicio2474]

hahahahaha

[@aves4081]

Incredible and terrifying!

[@thomasfholland]

Didn’t need to watch this while I was eating!

[@benedictjacob3836]

in the end even caterpillars hate wasps

[@Indoraptoad]

Whoever disliked this probably hates wasps.

[@tracygardner6318]

TheBeaverBabas WoodyEater I agree

[@abinyxx]

I love the part where she takes the caterpillar from his hand