Parasitoid wasp venoms degrade Drosophila imaginal discs for successful parasitism

Parasitoid wasps, one of the most diverse and species-rich animal groups on Earth, produce venoms that manipulate host development and physiology to exploit resources. However, mechanisms of actions of these venoms remain poorly understood. Here, we discovered that the endoparasitoid wasp, Asobara japonica, induces apoptosis, autophagy, and mitotic arrest in the adult tissue precursors of its host Drosophila larvae. We termed this phenomenon imaginal disc degradation (IDD). A multi-omics approach facilitated identification of two venom proteins of A. japonica necessary for IDD, which is critical for parasitism success. Our study highlights a venom-mediated hijacking strategy of the parasitoid wasp that allows the host larvae to grow, but ultimately prevents their metamorphosis.