Name a new species with the Natural History Museum

The Times and the new Darwin Centre are offering the chance to name a wasp species found in Ecuador. The wasp is parasitic and despite being discovered by the British amateur insect collector Martin Cooper in 1981, it is still nameless.

So would you name the wasp whose body is iridescent and has long antennae and elegant wings after your mother, or your boss or your favourite teacher? This is your opportunity to contribute to science.

Many species have been named after famous people, including Marilyn Monroe, Mick Jagger and George Bush. When naming a new species, a certain structure must be followed. The first part of the name is the species’ genus, which in this case is Umanella. The second part is its unique species name. This must end in “i” or an “ae” and should agree in gender with the genus so in this came the species name should end in “ae”. The final part of the name is the person or persons who first described the species in the scientific literature. In this case, the final part with be Broad, Dr Broad of the Natural History Museum.

For a few suggestions to get you going, visit the Times page that also allows you to submit your entry to name this species.