Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: Entomologists from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) have discovered a new species of parasitoid wasp in the Western Ghats region of Karnataka.
- Named Taeniogonalos deepaki, it was discovered in the Belgaum region and named after the medical doctor and nature enthusiast Deepak Deshpande, who collected the specimen.
Parasitoid wasps are a group of insects that lay their eggs inside other insects to complete their life cycle.
Parasitoid wasps are important biological control methods for gardeners. They are useful in controlling both native pests and invasive species. They feed on the eggs, larvae, and sometimes pupae of many insects, including aphids, caterpillars, and other honeydew-producing sucking insects.
