Two new species of PARASITIC WASPS discovered in U.S. — citizen scientists play key role in uncovering hidden biodiversity threat – NaturalNews.com
Two new species of PARASITIC WASPS discovered in U.S. — citizen scientists play key role in uncovering hidden biodiversity threat
Scientists have identified two previously unknown species of parasitic wasps in North America, findings that highlight the complexity of biodiversity, the potential risks of invasive species, and the growing role of citizen science in ecological discovery.
The discovery centers on two clades of Bootanomyia dorsalis, a species originally from Europe. One population was found along the Pacific Coast, from Oregon to British Columbia, while the other was detected in New York state. Researchers confirmed their identities through genetic sequencing of the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I, comparing results with global databases. The analysis revealed that the two clades were distinct enough to be considered separate species, suggesting that B. dorsalis was introduced to North America on at least two separate occasions.
These parasitic wasps target oak gall wasps, tiny insects that manipulate oak trees to form tumor-like growths known as galls. With roughly 90 oak species in North America and more than 800 known oak gall wasp species, this ecosystem supports enormous biodiversity. Parasitic wasps add another layer of complexity by laying their eggs inside galls, eventually consuming the gall wasps. Researchers suspect that B. dorsalis could influence native gall wasp populations, but its long-term ecological impact remains uncertain.
The mechanisms of introduction remain unclear. Historical planting of European oak species such as English oak (Quercus robur) and Turkey oak (Q. cerris) may have provided a pathway for wasps to cross the Atlantic. Alternatively, adult wasps — capable of surviving up to 27 days — may have traveled inadvertently on aircraft or shipping cargo. Genetic patterns suggest that the West Coast population likely stemmed from a single small introduction, while the East Coast group reflects greater diversity, possibly indicating multiple introductions.
The research was led by faculty at Binghamton University in New York, in collaboration with the University of Iowa, Wayne State University in Michigan, and the citizen-science platform Gallformers.org. The findings, published in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research, are part of a larger National Science Foundation-funded project to investigate the co-evolutionary dynamics between oak gall wasps and their parasitoids. Researchers aim to determine how gall characteristics influence defenses against parasites, and how parasitoids in turn adapt to overcome them.
This effort has already involved collecting tens of thousands of parasitoid wasps across North America, reared from around 25 gall wasp species. The scale and genetic scope of the study make it one of the most extensive investigations of insect co-evolution ever undertaken.
Citizen scientists have played an important role. Initiatives like “Gall Week” on iNaturalist encourage naturalists to collect and document galls, generating valuable data for professional researchers. Binghamton University students have also contributed through biodiversity events such as Ecoblitz.
Ultimately, the discovery of these two wasp species underscores the hidden diversity of parasitoids, a group thought to be the most species-rich on Earth. As Associate Professor Kirsten Prior noted, parasitic wasps are critical for ecosystem balance, often serving as natural controls for pests. Whether the introduction of B. dorsalis represents a threat or a stabilizing force is still unknown, but the finding illustrates how much biodiversity remains to be uncovered — and how quickly global change can reshape ecological networks.
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