Spathius thorpei

Spathius thorpei is a species of parasitoid wasp belonging to the family Braconidae.^[2] The species was first described by Sergey A. Belokobylskij and Andrew D. Austin in 2013, and is endemic to New Zealand.

Spathius thorpei
Spathius thorpei seen at the Auckland Botanic Gardens
Conservation status
Data Deficient (NZ TCS)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Braconidae
Genus:	Spathius
Species:	S. thorpei
Binomial name
Spathius thorpei Belokobylskij and Austin, 2013

Taxonomy

The species was identified by Polish entomologist Sergey A. Belokobylskij and Australian entomologist Andrew D. Austin in 2013, based on a holotype collected by Stephen E. Thorpe in April 2003, from sedges in the Auckland Domain, Auckland, New Zealand.^[3] Belokobylskij and Austin named the species after Thorpe.^[3]

Description

Females of S. thorpei have a body length of 3.2 mm (0.13 in), while males measure 2.2 mm (0.087 in). The species has glabrous eyes, slender antennae, and is reddish brown in colour.^[3] The species can be differentiated by its distinctly sculptured vertex and frons, and by having a long and narrow mesosoma.^[3]

Distribution and habitat

The species is endemic to New Zealand.^[2]