A. dementor is colored in red and black. Its mandibles and most of its clypeus, prothorax, mesothorax, and posterolateral areas are all light red, while its abdomen and much of its head is black. Its wings are slightly yellow. It has long, slender legs, and a tubular petiole, as long as the tergum. Of about 170 species in the family Ampulicidae, Ampulex dementor is the largest. The length of females varies between 9.6 and 10.9 mm; the length of males is uncharacterized[further explanation needed].[1]
Behavior
The wasp has an unusual behavior towards cockroaches. As it stings its prey, it releases a toxin into the victim's neural nodes. This toxin blocks the cockroach's octopamine receptors, leaving the cockroach alive, but docile and with impaired motility.[2] By prodding with its antennae, the predator then escorts its victim into the wasp's nest, where it can be dispatched more easily.[1]
Etymology
At the time of the wasp's description, visitors to the Museum für Naturkunde (in which the species was described) were asked through pamphlet distribution, to choose between four names, the third of which was ultimately chosen:[1]
Ampulex bicolor (the Latin word means 'two colors', from bis = twice) due to its very distinctive colours, black and red
Ampulex mon, an allusion to its origin, Thailand, and the Mon people, one of the earliest ethnic groups to live there
Ampulex dementor, referring to its behavioral resemblance to the Dementors, fictional creatures from the Harry Potter Books franchise, who suck the soul from their prey, leaving an empty body with neither thoughts nor emotions, somewhat as the wasp does
Ampulex plagiator, because the species is an ant mimic, in particular 'copying' the general appearance and movement of an ant, thus making it a plagiarist in this regard
