Scientists at the Natural History Museum have named a new species of wasp after Sir David Attenborough to mark his 100th birthday.
Today (Friday 8th May) marks Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday, and it’s fair to say he is one of England’s most beloved national treasures, especially when it comes to nature and wildlife. Since beginning his career in 1952, the Leicester-born broadcaster has written and presented more than 100 documentaries and television series.
Among his most memorable quotes is: ‘If you have a furry friend, remember: they are your best friend for only a short part of your life, but you are their best friend for their entire life.’ However, Attenborough now has an animal named after him forever – although, admittedly, not a furry one.
Scientists have named a newly discovered species of parasitic wasp after David Attenborough, which are now known as Attenboroughnculus tau.
The insects were identified from specimens held in the Natural History Museum’s collections and are described as both a new species and an entirely new genus.
Dr Gavin R. Broad led the study and he said Attenborough’s TV work had inspired his own career in taxonomy. He explained: ‘When I was far too young, I learnt about taxonomy from David Attenborough’s ‘Life on Earth’ series and resolved to be a taxonomist. Amazingly, I ended up a taxonomist, so I have Sir David to thank for that.’
The wasps, whose species name, tau, refers to a T-shaped marking on their abdomen, measure just 3.5mm in length and were originally collected in Chile’s Valdivia Province in 1983.
Despite spending more than 40 years in the museum’s collections, its unusual features were only recently identified by volunteer Augustijn De Ketelaere during a review of ichneumonid specimens.
Scientists said the wasp could not be placed into any existing genus because of several distinctive anatomical features, including unusual wing and leg structures and tooth-like features on its egg-laying organ, known as the ovipositor.
Its discovery brings the number of known genera in this rare wasp subfamily to four.
Jennifer Pullar, science communications manager at the Natural History Museum, said: ‘We hope to inspire global scientists to take another look in their collections to see if there is something small that could contribute to our collective understanding and therefore the future of our natural world.’
Also to mark the natural historian’s birthday, The Natural History Museum in London is hosting Our Story with David Attenborough, an immersive exhibition running until August and a bronze quote from the broadcaster has been installed in the museum’s gardens.
As part of the celebrations for Sir David’s birthday, the Natural History Museum is hosting Our Story with David Attenborough, an immersive exhibition running until August. The museum has also unveiled a bronze inscription in its gardens.
It reads: ‘The future of the natural world, on which we all depend, is in our hands’.
More about the new wasp species can be read here.
Image: Openverse
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