Joppa is a genus of striking, colorful wasps native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. First discovered way back in 1804, these wasps are famous for their bold yellow-and-black patterns. Female Joppa wasps spend their days flying through dense leaves on a very specific mission: finding a home for their eggs. To track down hidden insects, a mother wasp walks over leaves while constantly tapping them with her thick antennae. This lets her feel microscopic vibrations and smell chemical clues left behind by host insects. Once she finds her target, she uses a long, needle-like organ to slip her egg inside. While the growing larvae feed on their host, adult wasps are entirely harmless plant-lovers that sip nectar and tree sap. Their bright yellow colors serve as a giant “stay away!” sign, warning birds and other predators that they aren’t a easy snack. I crossed paths with this gorgeous wasp while walking through “La Perla”—a protected nature reserve that stands as one of the last remaining slices of the ancient rainforest that once covered the entire coast of Ecuador.