Biology:Phanuromyia odo
| Phanuromyia odo | |
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| Genus: | Phanuromyia
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| Species: | P. odo
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| Binomial name | |
| Phanuromyia odo Nesheim, 2017
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Phanuromyia odo is a species of wasp, found in the tropical regions of North, South, and Central America. The wasp is known to have inconsistent physical features, which is why the scientists who discovered this species named it after the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine character Odo, who was popularly known to have shape-shifting abilities.[1]
Description
The Phanuromyia odo can grow up to 3mm in length. The insect's hip-bone segment or coxa, and legs are bright yellow in color. The frontal portion of its mesoscutum consists of a wrinkly structure with tiny studded holes, whereas the posterior half has a leather-like and wrinkly texture.[1] The wasp also has a long, flexible, needle-like organ at the rear end of its body called the ovipositor.
Distribution
Specimens of this wasp have been found in: Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Mexico, and Peru.[1]
Behavior
The scientists who discovered this species believe that Phanuromyia odo are egg parasitoids. These tiny creatures insert their ovipositor into the eggs of other insects, such as planthoppers and lanternflies, and lay a single wasp egg. As the wasp larva continues to grow, it consumes the host's egg from within.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Nesheim, Katherine; Masner, Lubomir; Johnson, Norman (27 March 2017). "The Phanuromyia galeata species group (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae, Telonominae): shining a lantern into an unexplored corner of Neotropical diversity". ZooKeys (663): 71–105. doi:10.3897/zookeys.663.11554. PMID 28769619. PMC 5523176. https://zookeys.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=11554&display_type=list&element_type=9. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
Wikidata ☰ Q30592471 entry
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