New species of wasp identified in Goa

Kudakrumia rangnekari

A new species of wasp from the genus Kudakrumia has been recently identified by scientists in Goa.

The wasp, Kudakrumia rangnekari , has been named after Goa-based researcher Parag Rangnekar.

“A species being named after me comes as a complete surprise. Mixed feelings at the moment, of joy and for some unknown reason slightly uncomfortable,” Mr. Rangnekar said. The new species was collected in the forests of the Western Ghats.

Mr. Rangnekar’s quest to document the butterflies of this unique region resulted in a record of 220 species, of which 13 species had not been spotted before.

Mr. Rangnekar, who is the founder-president of the Goa Bird Conservation Network, has now taken up the documentation of the dragonflies in the State.