Cabinet of Curiosities: 2019

Specimen 1 and 2:

I came across these specimens on a trip I took a few years ago investigating a copper mine in Chile. Once I realized what they were I understood how lucky I was that the builder of these pieces had vacated the area. I had never seen such construction with such a solid material.

A traditional wasp uses it’s jaw to chew wood and plant fiber to create a paper like nest, some use mud or other materials found nearby. This particular breed of wasp somehow evolved so that their internal structure could collect copper and then create and withstand the temperatures needed to melt it. I can only imaging the intense friction required to build up that much heat, let alone the heat resistant armor they developed all over their body to survive such a feat. The heat required to melt copper is 1984° Fahrenheit.

There are stories from local communities recounting the unique noise these wasps made while they were building their nests. People revered and feared them. The new breed was referred to as Dioses Escupiendo Metal…Metal Spitting Gods.