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xchrom

(108,903 posts)
Sat Apr 27, 2013, 04:49 AM Apr 2013

Scientists discover new genus and species of fairyfly, Tinkerbella nana

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/04/26/scientists-discover-new-genus-and-species-of-fairyfly-tinkerbella-nana/



A pair of scientists have discovered a new species of tiny insect, a miniscule wasp that lives in the forests of Costa Rica.

Named Tinkerbella nana, after the Peter Pan character, the species measures no more than 250 micrometers in length. By comparison, the average human hair is about 100 micrometers wide.

According to a paper published Thursday in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research, the insects were collected by John S. Noyes, an entomologist at London's Natural History Museum, who swept a mesh net through vegetation at Costa Rica's La Selva Biological Station. Samples from the net were then examined under a microscope.

The species is a fairyfly, a type of wasp found worldwide. Most fairyflies are parasites that lives on other insects' eggs, but the researchers know almost nothing about Tinkerbella's behavior.
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Scientists discover new genus and species of fairyfly, Tinkerbella nana (Original Post) xchrom Apr 2013 OP
Tinkerbella nana dipsydoodle Apr 2013 #1
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