Attenboroughnculus tau is named for Sir David Attenborough
Updated
Updated · National Geographic · May 7
Attenboroughnculus tau is named for Sir David Attenborough
7 articles · Updated · National Geographic · May 7
The 3.5mm parasitic wasp, collected in Chile in 1983 and identified at London's Natural History Museum, was announced in the Journal of Natural History before his 100th birthday on 8 May.
Researcher Gavin Broad said the insect was distinct enough to require a new genus, marked by a T-shaped abdominal pattern and unusual egg-laying structures, and Attenborough sent a handwritten note saying he was complimented.
More than 50 species already bear Attenborough's name, but only a few genera do, including the extinct marine reptile Attenborosaurus, underlining his long influence on natural history.
Why is a parasitic wasp that eats its host alive a fitting tribute for a world-renowned naturalist?
How many undiscovered species are already sitting in museum drawers, just waiting to be identified?
Does naming species after celebrities help conservation or just create a popularity contest for nature?