Entomologists have recently discovered a new species of wasp, “Taeniogonalos deepaki,” in Belgaum, within the Western Ghat region in Karnataka, adding to the 7 known species of Taeniogonalos in India.
About the Taeniogonalos deepaki:
- The Taeniogonalos deepaki is a parasitoid wasp belonging to the genus Taeniogonalos, family Trigonalyidae, and the order Hymenoptera.
- It is a hyperparasitoid, meaning it preys upon other parasitoids or develops within the bodies of other insects.
Other key facts:
- A parasitoid is an organism that lives in close association with its host, leading to the host’s death, exhibiting characteristics of both predators and parasites.
- Hyperparasitoids are parasites of parasites, specifically targeting hosts that are also parasites.
- Taeniogonalos species have a global distribution, including Afrotropical, Oriental, Eastern Palaearctic, Nearctic, Australian, and Neotropical regions.
Ref:Source
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