Whispers Behind the curtain

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It was the first time Ananya and Ananth had ever seen a Sutra Gombeyata, the traditional string-puppet theatre of Karnataka. They sat spellbound as the wooden puppets danced across the stage, their movements brought to life by invisible strings and the skillful hands of the puppeteers behind the curtain. When they learned that this enchanting art form dated back thousands of years, they were amazed. It felt like watching history come alive!

If you’ve never seen one before, you can find beautifully handcrafted Rajasthani kathputli puppets online. They’re miniature works of art that carry India’s storytelling heritage.

Ananya and Ananth seeing a Sutra Gombeyata

It was their summer vacation, and their first visit to Udupi, a small coastal town filled with green fields, coconut groves and old stories whispered by the sea breeze. Their uncle, Pritvi an agricultural entomologist, spent his days studying the secret lives of insects. Little did they know that this vacation and their uncle’s curious world of tiny creatures would soon lead them into an adventure of their own.

Ananya’s eyes sparkled as she turned to her uncle. “Uncle, it’s unbelievable! Those puppets were moving with invisible strings and people backstage were controlling every single motion!” she said in awe.

Then she murmured, “The poor toys must feel so out of control. They don’t even get to decide what to do!”

“Ya.. ya… as if those toys have a mind of their own!” Ananth exclaimed, waving his hands as if the puppets were still dancing before him.

Their uncle smiled and said, “Yes, it is a wonder. It takes so much coordination to make those puppets move so effortlessly. Every tiny motion, a turn of the wrist, a pull of the string has to be timed just right. It needs patience… and a lot of practice.”

“We can visit the artist’s house another day if you’d like to learn more about the art,” their uncle continued with a smile. “She lives not too far from here, and I’m sure she’d be happy to show you how the puppets are made.”

Ananya’s face lit up instantly and Ananth clapped his hands in excitement. The thought of seeing the magical puppets up close made their hearts race with curiosity.

“Do you know,” their uncle asked with a twinkle in his eye, “that there are puppet masters even in the insect world?”

Ananya and Ananth looked at each other in surprise. “Puppet masters? Insects?” Ananth echoed eyebrows raising up.

Their uncle chuckled softly. “Yes… in nature, some tiny creatures can control others, just like the puppeteers you saw tonight.”

“Tell us more about it!” chorused Ananya and Ananth together, their voices bubbling with excitement.

“All right, all right,” he said with a smile. “There’s a tiny insect called the Hymenoepimecis argyraphaga also locally called zombie spider wasp, found far away in the rainforests of Costa Rica. It’s an amazing creature! This wasp can actually control a spider and make it build a special web similar to cocoon for the wasp’s baby.”

Zombie spider wasp

Ananya gasped. “You mean… it makes the spider do all the work for it?”

Her uncle nodded. “Exactly. The wasp turns the spider into its little helper, just like a puppet on invisible strings.”

“Why would the spider allow anyone to control it?” asked curious Ananth, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Their uncle chuckled softly. “That’s the fascinating part,” he said. “The spider doesn’t even realise it is being controlled. The wasp’s baby releases tiny chemicals that change how the spider thinks and moves just like the invisible strings we saw pulling the puppets today.”

“But how does the wasp’s baby even get on the spider?” asked Ananya, tilting her head. “The spider has a web… won’t the wasp get stuck in it?”

Their uncle smiled, clearly impressed by her question. “That’s a smart thought, Ananya,” he said. “But the mother wasp is clever. She waits nearby, watching the spider carefully. When the moment is just right, she swoops in, stings the spider to make it still for a few seconds, and then lays her egg on its body. After that, she flies away safely, without getting caught in the web.”

Zombie spider wasp watching the spider carefully.

“Oh my god, that is so mean!” said Ananth, his face curled up in disbelief.

Their uncle chuckled gently. “It does sound mean, doesn’t it?” he said. “But in nature, every creature has its own way of surviving. For the wasp, this is how it protects its baby, even if it feels unfair to us.”

“But you know what’s amazing?” Uncle added with a smile. “Both spiders and wasps have lived on Earth for millions of years! So maybe nature’s way isn’t unfair, it is just different.

“Then what happens, Uncle?” asked curious Ananya, her eyes wide with wonder.

“After a few days, the egg hatches,” he said softly. “A tiny baby wasp comes out and clings to the spider’s back. It drinks just a little of the spider’s blood, enough to live but not to harm it. The spider keeps spinning its web, not knowing that a little rider is hiding on it.”

“Later, when the wasp is almost ready to grow up, it releases special chemicals that change how the spider behaves. It’s almost like taking over its mind,” continued Uncle. “When the spider finishes the web, it grows very tired and stops moving. The hungry wasp then feasts on it before spinning its own silky cocoon right in the centre of the web, where it will stay safe until it becomes an adult.”

Hungry wasp feasting on a spider

“Uncle, that’s scary,” said Ananya, her voice barely above a whisper.

Uncle comforted her gently. “It is a little scary,” he agreed, “but also amazing. Nature has its own ways, sometimes strange, sometimes harsh, yet everything has a purpose.”

Ananth grinned. “If I ever see a spider on our balcony, I’ll check if the villain wasp is on it!” he said, making everyone burst into hearty laughter.