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5 new Darwin Wasps Discovered: Guardian of Ecosystem Balance

ATREE has discovered five new species of parasitic wasps in India and Thailand, marking the first documentation of the Microleptinae subfamily in India. These wasps play a critical role in natural pest control and environmental friendly pest management.

Discovery of New Darwin Wasp Species

  • Research conducted by Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)
  • Five new wasp species discovered in India and Thailand
  • Research team led by Ranjith AP and Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan
  • First documentation of Microleptinae subfamily in India

Four new species from India:

    • Microleptes chiani (Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu)
    • Microleptes gowrishankari (Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve, Karnataka)
    • Microleptes sandeshkaduri (Siang valley, Arunachal Pradesh)
    • Microleptes tehriensis (Tehri, Uttarakhand)
  • Fifth species discovered in Thailand: Microleptes depressus
  • Expanded global knowledge of Ichneumonidae family

Ecological Significance and Characteristics

  • Parasitic wasps with unique biological mechanisms
  • Larvae develop inside or on other arthropods
  • Critical role in natural pest control

Key ecosystem services:

    • Control populations of crop-damaging pests
    • Manage insects like aphids and caterpillars
    • Environmentally friendly pest management

Distinct physical characteristics:

    • Six-legged body with head, thorax, and abdomen
    • Large compound eyes and three simple eyes (ocelli)
    • Longer antennae with multiple segments

Breeding strategy:

    • Females lay eggs in or on host larvae/pupae
    • Some species can drill through wood using ovipositors
  • Solitary wasps that only gather for mating

Taxonomic and Research Implications

  • Part of the Ichneumonidae family with 42 subfamilies
  • Microleptinae is the smallest subfamily
  • Previously only 14 global species documented
  • Naming conventions honor:
    • Influential researchers
    • Conservation experts
    • Specific geographical locations
  • Specimens collected using Malaise traps and sweep nets
  • Findings published in Journal of Hymenoptera Research

Significance for biodiversity understanding:

    • Reveals complex ecological interactions
    • Highlights importance of taxonomic research
    • Demonstrates India's rich biological diversity

Supplementary Insights:

  • Named after Charles Darwin due to their intriguing parasitic nature
  • Specimens deposited in National Zoological Collections
  • Indicates broader distribution across different geographical regions
  • Emphasizes need for comprehensive taxonomic studies

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