Rachel Kogan ’19

DThe Amazon Rainforest spans much of northern South America and is largely considered to be one of the most bio diverse regions on the planet. The ecological diversity in the transitional region between the rainforest and the Andes Mountains in particular has fascinated many scientists for decades. Recently, researchers have uncovered a novel wasp species with unique anatomical features inhabiting this area.

The Amazon Rainforest spans much of northern South America and is largely considered to be one of the most bio diverse regions on the planet. The ecological diversity in the transitional region between the rainforest and the Andes Mountains in particular has fascinated many scientists for decades. Recently, researchers have uncovered a novel wasp species with unique anatomical features inhabiting this area.

Although this discovery of yet another wasp, and a large one at that, may terrify most individuals, it is particularly significant to many scientists interested in conservation. The greater the number of species discovered in the Amazon and other biologically diverse areas, the more scientific evidence for the region’s potential ecological impact. Thus, identifying these species and understanding how they contribute to their environment may aid worldwide conservation efforts.

References

1. E. Palacia, et. al., The Neotropical species of Clistopyga (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae). Part II: the C. isayae species group, with the description of seven new species. Zootaxa 4442, (2018). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4442.1.5  
2. Image retrieved from: https://www.eurekalert.org/multimedia/pub/174881.php