New Wasps Species

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.

About Parasitism 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 Types of Parasitism 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.