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News: Four new species of parasitoid wasps have been identified: Idris bianor, Idris furvus, Idris hyllus, and Idris longiscapus.

About New Wasps

These belong to the genus Idris (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae).
They are found in agroecosystems and semi-natural habitats across West Bengal, India.
They are extremely small and microscopic in size.
They are known to lay eggs inside spider egg sacs.
These are primary egg parasitoids of jumping spiders (Salticidae family).
They display a phenomenon called gregarious parasitism, where multiple wasps develop from a single spider egg sac, rather than just one.
They act as natural biocontrol agents by regulating spider populations and contribute to maintaining balance in arthropod communities.

Parasitism is a long-term symbiotic relationship where one organism, known as the parasite, lives in or on another organism, the host.
The parasite depends on the host for food, protection, or reproduction.
Examples: Tapeworms, roundworms, and fleas, etc

Ectoparasitism – Parasite lives on the outer surface of the host.
Endoparasitism – Parasite lives inside the host’s body or cells.
Mesoparasitism – Parasite lives partly inside and partly outside the host.
Obligate Parasitism – Parasite cannot survive without a host.
Facultative Parasitism – Parasite can survive independently, but may become parasitic under certain conditions.