Two ‘new’ species of cuckoo wasps discovered in the Iberian Peninsula

Researchers from the Center for Research on Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO-InBio) of the University of Porto have discovered two “new” species of cuckoo wasps in the Iberian Peninsula, and another nine have been recorded “for the first time” in Portugal. announced this Wednesday.

A University of Porto statement said the study, published in the Biodiversity Data Journal, describes two “new” cuckoo wasp species: “Chrysis crossi sp. nov” registered in the Algarve and “Hedychridium calcarium sp. Nov. in Spain.

There are about 2,800 species of cuckoo wasps in the world, of which 480 are registered in Europe. In Portugal, 130 species and four subspecies are known, “a number that is probably still far from the existing total”.

Cuckoo wasps belong to the Chrysididae family and are related to bees, bumblebees, paper wasps, and ants.

These insects have a cuckoo-like reproductive behavior as the females lay their eggs in the nests of other species, namely solitary bees or wasps.

“Despite their small size, cuckoo wasps are by far one of the most beautiful insects on the planet. With bright colors and metallic hues, they can be green, blue, red or pink, and in some species all of these colors at the same time. “, – specify in the center.

In Europe, these insects are more common in southern countries, and their diversity is greater in the Mediterranean.

“Many species of cuckoo wasps are rare and some are endangered in Europe,” CIBIO-InBIO emphasizes.

In addition to the “new” species described, this study represents “the first attempt at creating DNA barcodes,” contributing to “an important step in documenting faunal genetic diversity,” the researcher said in a statement. and co-author Sonia Ferreira.

“The success of the goals of international projects such as Biodiversity Genomics Europe (BGE), which aims to introduce standardized ecosystem monitoring on an international scale, lies in the ability to combine traditional biodiversity monitoring methods with the latest molecular methods,” adds the researcher.

The statement also cited researcher Paolo Rosa from the Zoology Laboratory of the University of Mons, emphasizing the role played by these insects.

“The study of cuckoo wasps is important for understanding the state of environmental health, as they are at the top of the food chain, sensitive to all changes occurring in the environment, and to the diversity of single species of bees and wasps on which they parasitize. Numerous populations of cuckoo wasps indicate a well-preserved environment,” he adds.