Megaphragma mymaripenne

Megaphragma mymaripenne
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Trichogrammatidae
Genus:	Megaphragma
Species:	M. mymaripenne
Binomial name
Megaphragma mymaripenne Timberlake, 1924

Megaphragma mymaripenne is a very small

In January 1920, specimens of an unknown insect were collected in Hawaii associated with thrips, suspected of being egg parasites. The insects were described as a new species and genus Megaphragma mymaripenne 1924 by Philip Hunter Timberlake. M. mymaripenne specimens were next found on 29 March 1927, again with thrips, on the leaf of a genus Croton plant. On 10 May 1930, specimens were found near thrips and thrips eggs, and mature pupae were found inside the thrips eggs. As of 1930, the genus was not thought to be native to Hawaii.^[3]

Nervous systems are one of the principal factors that limit shrinking body size. The entire central nervous system forms 6% of the body mass of M. mymaripenne, and the brain makes up 2.9%. Of the wasp's 7,400 neurons, 4,600 are located in the brain. A small insect from other families often deals with the issue of having a large brain in relation to its head size by shifting its brain into its thorax and even abdomen. However, wasps cannot, as to keep their heads flexible, the head's connection to the thorax is relatively limited.^[2]

Uniquely, by the time M. mymaripenne reaches adulthood, 95% of its nervous cells have lost their

Despite their reduced nervous systems, adult wasps can fly, feed, and locate hosts to lay their eggs.[2] The wasp eggs are deposited in the eggs of thrips.^[1] To emerge, the wasps cut an 80-90 μm near-circular hole in the eggs.^[3]

References