Taeniogonalos dhritiae : New Species Of Wasp
Scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) recently discovered a new species of wasp named ‘Taeniogonalos dhritiae’ in the Western Ghats of Kerala.
- Taeniogonalos dhritiae is a new species of wasp discovered in the Ranipuram Hills area in the Western Ghats of Kerala.
- It is named after Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, a noted entomologist.
- It is a species in the family Trigonalyidae.
- While there are about 122 described species of Trigonalyidae in 16 genes worldwide, the knowledge of Indian Trigonalyidae is scanty, with only eight described species till date.
- These insects are hyperparasitoids (parasites of parasites) where females lay eggs on other parasitic wasps.
- The Trigonalyidae family is found in abundance in parts of Europe, Northern Africa, and Asia.
