NAME A NEW PARASITOID WASP SPECIES

Despite the common idea that new and spectacular species are only discovered in exotic, usually tropical habitats, many can be found within the United States. Every year, new ichneumonid wasp species are discovered and added to the tally of hundreds of others that await a formal scientific name and description. The chief reason for such a large backlog is a lack of funding support to complete this vital research.

Traditionally, the taxonomist or researcher who discovers a species, and publishes the finding, coins the scientific name for the new species. Such names are often descriptive of its appearance or geography but may also honor an individual or institution. We at IoNA invite you to coin a name for one of the species shown below which are ready to be formally described in a scientific journal. Many options are possible from using your own last name to honoring a loved one to creating an entirely new word. Regardless, your intent will be expressed in the names' etymology so its origin is clear.

You will gain the right to name a species by financially supporting ichneumonid research. You donation will fund the collecting, preservation, and research efforts that are needed to discover new ichneumonid species Examples of what the funding will be used for include preservation supplies, collecting equipment, collecting expeditions, museum visits, publication costs, website hosting costs, and DNA sequencing.

The minimum support to name a species starts at $3,000 and increases with a species abundnace, size, and showiness. In addition to the right to name the species, you will also recieve a framed print of the species, a copy of the publication in which it was described, and a presentation by the author of the publication of up to 30 minutes in a venue of your choice explaining and celebrating the discovery.

If you are interested in this unique opportunity, please contact Brandon Claridge, PhD at [email protected] to discuss further details!