A small parasitic wasp belonging to the family Chalcididae, often used in agriculture to control pest insects by laying eggs inside them.
From Greek 'chalkos' (copper, possibly referring to metallic coloring) via the family name 'Chalcididae'. Named in the 18th century.
Chalcid wasps are nature's tiny assassins—farmers now deliberately release millions of them to kill crop pests without chemicals, making them worth billions in biological pest control!
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