Thaumatodryinus
Perkins, 1905
Species Guides
1Thaumatodryinus is a of in the Dryinidae, first described by Perkins in 1905. The genus includes both extant and fossil , with extant species documented from Africa and fossil species known from Miocene Dominican amber. Members of this genus are small wasps characterized by forelegs with enlarged claws used to capture . The genus is part of a family whose members are parasitoids of Hemiptera, particularly leafhoppers and planthoppers.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Thaumatodryinus: /ˌθɔːmətoʊˈdrɪɪnəs/
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Habitat
Extant occur in montane forest . Thaumatodryinus tuukkaraski was collected at 2,162 m elevation in montane forest. Fossil species are preserved in Dominican amber, indicating former presence in forest of the Miocene Caribbean.
Distribution
Extant: Kenya (Taita Hills). Fossil: Dominican Republic (Miocene amber).
Human Relevance
The Thaumatodryinus tuukkaraski was named in 2015 after Finnish ice hockey goaltender Tuukka Rask, referencing the tenacious grasping function of the species' forelegs. This represents an example of eponymous species naming linking entomology and popular culture.