For the first time, wasps in the genus Spasskia (family: Braconidae) have been found in China, according to an article in the open-access Journal of Insect Science. In addition, a species in that genus which is totally new to science was also discovered.
The new species, Spasskia brevicarinata, is very small — male and female adults are less than one centimeter long. It is similar to a previously described species called Spasskia indica, but the ridges on some of its body segments are different. In fact, the species epithet brevicarinata reflects a short ridge on its first tergite, as "brevi" is Latin for short and "carinata" is Latin for ridge.
This image shows an adult Spasskia brevicarinata, a newly discovered wasp species.
(Photo Credit: Entomological Society of America)
High-quality photos of both species can be viewed at http://www.insectscience.org/14.119.
Spasskia brevicarinata (left) and Spasskia indica (right) are shown. Higher-quality images are available at http://www.insectscience.org/14.119.
(Photo Credit: Entomological Society of America)
Source: Entomological Society of America