Losgna Occidentalis

Recently, a new species of parasitic wasp, ‘Losgna Occidentalis’, was discovered in Chandigarh.

• Name Origin: The name ‘Occidentalis’ was chosen to signify its westernmost known occurrence within the Losgna genus. Previous records of this genus were exclusively from the tropical forests of eastern India and Southeast Asia.
• Significance: This discovery highlights the unexplored richness of India’s biodiversity.
• Discovery Details:
  • A single solitary Losgna (wasp) specimen was collected from a windowsill in Chandigarh during winter 2023–24.
  • This is the first time any new insect species has been formally described from Chandigarh.
• Species Classification: The specimen belongs to the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae, which are known for laying their eggs inside or on other arthropod hosts.
• Historical Context: Prior to this discovery, Losgna had not been recorded in India since Heinrich’s 1965 monograph.
• Existing Specimens: According to the research, the only other existing specimens of any Losgna species are housed at the Natural History Museum, London, The Hope Collection, Oxford University, and the Zoologische Staatssammlung München (ZSM), Munich—all dating from the British era.

(Source: TH)