I joined CSIRO entomologist Dr Juanita Rodriguez in the field during a Bush Blitz expedition to the Pilliga in New South Wales to find about spider wasps, a fascinating group of insects that help control spider populations and may even hold clues for future medicines.
In conversation with Dr Juanita Rodriguez
Bry: Juanita, what insects are you looking for? 
Juanita: I'm looking for spider wasps (family Pompilidae). They are not flying spiders! They are wasps that look for spiders, sting them, paralyse them, and then lay an egg on them so that their baby larvae will feed on the paralysed spider that's still alive. When the baby hatches, it eats the spider. They're very sneaky.
Bry: So, without wasps, we'd have way more spiders?
Juanita: Exactly. If you don't like spiders, spider wasps are your friends. They're not evil but are really helping to control spider populations and are good pollinators.
Bry: Can wasps paralyse humans?
Juanita: No, because the amount of venom that they inject is too small. But their sting does cause a lot of pain thanks to the toxins in the venom. We're trying to figure out what effect wasp venom could have on humans and see if the venom can be turned into potential new drugs. My research is also looking at how different wasp species have different venom compounds. One day we might be able to treat conditions like Alzheimer's with the sting of a wasp
Bry: How did you become interested in wasps?
Juanita: It started at university when I first looked at insects under the microscope. I thought they were fascinating and looked like little aliens! I became very interested in the diversity and all that is unknown about them and discovered spider wasps on a scholarship, that's when I fell absolutely in love with them.
Bry: What's your favourite wasp species?
Juanita: It's difficult to pick a favourite out of the 12,000 Australian species, but I love orange and black spider wasps (from the genus Heterodontonyx). Females are strong enough to carry huntsman spiders back to their nest that are 10 or 20 times their size!
Bry: What would happen if all wasps disappeared?
Juanita: Wasps are very good at controlling the populations of other bugs, like spiders, so they're good pest managers and biocontrol agents. They also act as pollinators by feeding on nectar and buzzing from flower to flower to help pollinate native plants.
Bry: Have you named any wasp species?
Juanita: Yes, recently I named one Epipompilus namadgi because it lives in Namadgi National Park (near Canberra). Its habitat was badly burned by the Black Summer Bushfires and unfortunately, it hasn't been found since. It could be endangered, but it's very rare and we're still trying to locate it to see if it needs protection.
Bry: What happens to the wasps after you collect them on a Bush Blitz?
Juanita: We bring the specimens back to the lab to identify them and name and describe species new to science. They're also studied to understand how pollinators and populations change through time, understand the biogeography of species and conserve endangered species that need protection.
Bry: How big is your insect collection?
Juanita: I work at the CSIRO Australian National Insect Collection which is the largest collection of Australian insects in the world, with close to 12 million specimens in the collection.
Bry: Do you have any advice for anyone thinking about becoming a scientist?
Juanita: My advice is to look at what your skills are. Some of us are good at analysing data or being out in nature or in the lab. Then according to your skills, you can go into a branch of science that really suits you and that you'll enjoy.
About Bush Blitz to the Pilliga
Bush Blitz is the world's largest biodiversity survey program bringing together First Nations peoples and scientists to uncover more than 2,000 species new to science. It's an innovative partnership between the Australian Government, BHP and Earthwatch Australia.
The Pilliga Bush Blitz was hosted on the lands of the Gamilaraay, Gamilaroi and Gomeroi peoples.
