Thu Dec 12 17:03:23 UTC 2024: ## Indian Researchers Discover Five New Species of Darwin Wasps
**Bengaluru, India –** A team of researchers from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) in Bengaluru, along with collaborators from Thailand and Russia, have announced the discovery of five new species of Darwin wasps belonging to the subfamily Microleptinae. This is the first documented instance of this subfamily in India.
The newly discovered species, four from India and one from Thailand, expand the known global count of Microleptinae by five. The Indian species have been named in honor of individuals who have contributed to conservation efforts, including a long-time ATREE associate and researchers from the Kalinga Foundation and Felis Creations.
The research, published recently, highlights the rich biodiversity of India and emphasizes the need for further taxonomic studies. The discovery of these species in geographically diverse regions of India suggests a wider distribution of the subfamily across the country than previously understood. The researchers believe their findings underscore the importance of continued taxonomic research in understanding ecological roles and advancing biodiversity conservation.
First Piper 