The Amazon Rainforests of Peru have yielded another new species. The discovery of a new parasitoid wasp has recently been published in a scientific journal and was made by scientists from the University of Turku in Finland. The creature was found at the Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve which has been the location of biodiversity studies for decades. The wasp genus has been named Capitojoppa and is one of several new species found in the rainforests. It is part of the Ichneumoninae subfamily of wasps.
Biodiversity in the Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon rainforest is home to one-third of the planet’s land animal and plant species.
©iStock.com/JarnoVerdonk
In a press release describing the new exciting finding, scientists explained that the wasps in this family were usually large and colorful. Several new species of wasps have been found in this nature reserve already. However, new research is underway and even more new species are likely to be found. The Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve in Peru has been described as the most biodiverse rainforest in the world. This is partly attributed to the area’s complex geology and the fact that there are several different types of rainforests here. In recent years, scientists have discovered several new bird species in the area.
What Does the Capitojoppa Wasp Look Like?
The name Capitojoppa tells us a lot about what the wasp looks like. The term ‘capito’ signifies that it has a large head and ‘joppa’ is derived from the wasp species Joppa which looks very similar to this discovery. It has also been given the specific species name amazonica indicating where it was found. The newly identified female had a body length of 17.7 mm which is 0.69 inches and is a brownish yellow color.
Where Do Wasps Normally Live?
There are at least 75,000 recognized species of wasps! They are a type of insect characterized by a slender body, a narrow waist, and long wings. They are one of the most diverse animals on earth and they are almost certainly many more species that we have not yet discovered. Wasps are found on every continent except for Antarctica. They can trace their history back to the Jurassic period which was around 150 million years ago. It is thought that they share a common ancestor with bees and ants. They developed their venomous stingers for hunting and defense and this probably played a key role in their survival and success.
What Type of Nests Do Wasps Build?
Some wasps live alone, these are called solitary wasps. Social wasps live in colonies of up to 10,000 individuals. Some live in nests that they build themselves by chewing wood pulp and creating a type of paper. Others live underground or in plant stems or rotten wood.
This newly discovered species is a parasitoid wasp which means that they lay their eggs inside other insects to complete their lifecycle!
