[NSFW] When a parasitic wasp lays an egg inside a caterpillar, is that a form of rape?

No. Parasitism is not a sexual demonstration of power.

Rape generally is defined as
“unlawful sexual activity and usually sexual intercourse carried out forcibly or under threat of injury against a person’s will or with a person who is beneath a certain age or incapable of valid consent because of mental illness, mental deficiency, intoxication, unconsciousness, or deception” (Merriam Webster dictionary)

Since a caterpillar is not a person, the definition misses.

Laying an egg is strictly speaking, not intercourse.

And the concept of consent in the realm of caterpillars doesn’t fit, either.

The wasp may be doing something unwelcome by the caterpillar, but it isn’t rape.

No more so that the guy that accidentally got the earwig put into his ear on Night Gallery was accidentally raped. Or that he was trying to rape the husband of the woman he wanted.

Not if the caterpillar consents.

NO…it’s an unwanted advance!!!

Upon further thought, I wonder is a parasitic WASP is someone like
– Newt Gingrich
– Jim Jordan
– Jerry Falwell
– Jimmy Swaggert

?

It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is…

Would you persecute a wasp for an act of nature?

Ask the caterpillars lawyer.