Braconid

/ˈbrækənɪd/ noun

Definition

Any wasp belonging to the family Braconidae, a large group of small parasitic wasps that lay eggs in or on other insects.

Etymology

From the genus name 'Bracon' plus the English suffix '-id' (from Latin '-idus'), commonly used to form names of organisms within a larger taxonomic group. The Braconidae family was formally named in the 19th century.

Kelly Says

With over 17,000 described species, braconids are among the most diverse insect families, yet most people have never heard of them. They're so effective at controlling pest populations that evolutionary biologists study them to understand the arms race between parasites and their hosts.

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