Date: May 4, 2016
Source: Pensoft Publishers
While thinking of a name for the
new wasp, Dr Buntika A. Butcher, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, recalled
her long hours of studying in her laboratory right under the poster of her
favourite film actor. This is how a parasitic wasp from South Africa was named
after Hollywood star Brad Pitt. The researchers have published their findings
in the open access journal ZooKeys.
The new wasp species, called Conobregma bradpitti, belongs to a large
worldwide group of wasps parasitising in moth or butterfly caterpillars. These
wasps lay their eggs into a host, which once parasitised starts hardening.
Thus, the wasp cocoon can safely develop and later emerge from the 'mummified'
larva. Despite their macabre behaviour, many of these wasp species are
considered valuable in agriculture because of their potential as biological
control.
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