New Genus of Parasitoid Wasp Uncovered in Peru’s Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve

The Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve in the Peruvian Amazon has recently been the site of the discovery of Capitojoppa amazonica, a large parasitoid wasp. The photographic evidence of the wasp was provided by Kari Kaunisto.

Known for its unparalleled biodiversity, the Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve in Peru has often been celebrated as the planet’s most ecologically diverse rainforest. Numerous previously unknown bird species have also been identified in the reserve in recent years. Researchers from the University of Turku in Finland have been delving into the insect biodiversity in this area for more than 20 years. Their most recent research has added to the already abundant diversity of life forms by unveiling a new genus of wasp, named Capitojoppa.

In the scholarly article recently made public, the scientists detailed the characteristics of this new genus Capitojoppa, placing it within the Ichneumoninae subfamily.

Brandon Claridge, a doctoral candidate at Utah State University in the United States, noted, “Wasps in the Ichneumoninae subfamily are generally large and vividly colored, particularly in tropical regions. These wasps, as larvae, predominantly feed on the internal parts of caterpillars and pupae of moths and butterflies. We have been analyzing the biodiversity of ichneumonines in the Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve, based on samples gathered by researchers from the University of Turku. Our research will describe multiple unidentified species in the future, and this current study serves as an introduction to our future work.”

The reserve initially gained attention from the scientific community in the late 1980s, when Alwyn Gentry, an American botanist, recorded an unparalleled number of tree species in a single location.

Professor Ilari E. Sääksjärvi from the University of Turku elaborated, “Gentry aimed to identify the number of tree species that could thrive in a one-hectare area within the Amazon rainforest. His research identified almost 300 different species of trees in that designated plot. Since 1998, our team has been researching insect biodiversity in the same region and we have documented some of the world’s highest counts of insect species. Capitojoppa was also found in close proximity to the same research hectare utilized by Gentry.”

The nomenclature for newly discovered species often conveys important information about their characteristics or habitat. Claridge explained, “The term ‘Capitojoppa’ provides crucial insights into the properties of this newly identified wasp genus. The ‘capito’ component signifies the wasps’ large heads, while it also makes a reference to the South American bird genus Capito, known for their strong, large beaks. The ‘joppa’ portion of the name is indicative of the resemblance to the Joppa wasp genus. The specific species designation ‘amazonica’ refers to the Amazon region.”

In the 1990s, Finnish scientists contributed to the conservation initiatives of the Allpahuayo-Mishana Reserve. Professor Sääksjärvi added, “The reserve is a section of the Amazon with an extraordinary density of species. The area’s intricate geological history has led to the presence of diverse types of rainforests within the reserve itself. Unfortunately, human activities are currently affecting the area, leading to rapid changes. Our research endeavors aim to ascertain the extent of impact of human activities, including climate change, on the local ecosystems.”

Reference: The research article titled “Capitojoppa, a New Genus of Ichneumoninae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) from Peruvian Amazonia,” authored by Brandon R. Claridge, Kari M. Kaunisto, and Ilari E. Sääksjärvi, was published on September 1, 2023, in the ZooKeys journal. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1178.108929

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More about Capitojoppa amazonica Discovery

• Capitojoppa amazonica Research Article in ZooKeys
• University of Turku Research on Insect Biodiversity
• Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve Official Site
• Ichneumoninae Subfamily Overview
• Historical Research by Alwyn Gentry on Biodiversity
• Utah State University’s Involvement in Biodiversity Research