In February 2024, the description of a new potter wasp species from the Philippines was published in Zootaxa.
๐พ๐ค๐๐ก๐๐ช๐ข๐๐ฃ๐๐จ ๐ง๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ช๐จ
Distribution/habitat: Mindanao (Davao, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur)
Endemic: Possible
Distinctive traits: ๐. ๐ณ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ค๐ข๐ฏ๐ถ๐ด sports a black and ochre pattern on its head, legs, and abdomen; its posterior is entirely black.
Conservation status: Unknown
Described by: Marco Selis
Etymology: The species name ๐ณ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ค๐ข๐ฏ๐ถ๐ด is derived from ๐ณ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ค๐ถ๐ด (Latin for โcountryโ or โruralโ), which was the original label of the holotype designated by entomologist and museum curator Antonio Giordani Soika.
Significance
The description of ๐. ๐ณ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ค๐ข๐ฏ๐ถ๐ด marked the first time that the ๐๐ฐ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ด genus (typically found on nearby Indonesian islands, per the author) was recorded in the Philippines.โMF
Reference:
Author: Mikael Angelo Francisco
Bitten by the science writing bug, Mikael has years of writing and editorial experience under his belt. As the editor-in-chief of FlipScience, Mikael has sworn to help make science more fun and interesting for geeky readers and casual audiences alike.
