Doomdooma: Scientists have identified a new species of tiny parasitic wasp in Assam’s Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. The discovery is also the first recorded occurrence of its genus in India.
The new species, named Oxyserphus narendrani, was described by Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) researchers Rupam Debnath and K. Rajmohana. Their study, published in September 2026, records the first occurrence of the genus Oxyserphus in India and the first formally described species of the genus from the Oriental biogeographic region.
The insect measures only about 3.3 mm. Researchers collected it in November 2024 using a yellow pan trap, a water-filled device commonly used to collect flying insects. Microscopic examination later confirmed that the specimen belonged to a previously undescribed species.
The new species has a single horizontal groove on the side of its thorax. This feature distinguishes it from the closely related Australian species Oxyserphus sulcatus, which has six to seven fine, radiating grooves in the same area. The new species also has a shorter ovipositor sheath and a distinct wing spot.
The species was named after the late Dr T. C. Narendran, who made major contributions to the taxonomy of parasitic wasps in India. Members of the Oxyserphus genus are rarely found in insect collections and have generally been associated with high-altitude habitats.
Its discovery in the lowland ecosystem of Dibru-Saikhowa therefore adds a new record for the genus in India.
The discovery also shows that protected areas may contain species that have not yet been scientifically documented. Before this finding, researchers had recorded only eight species of the family Proctotrupidae from India.
Dibru-Saikhowa extends across Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts and is known for its forests, grasslands, wetlands and bird diversity. The area was designated a Biosphere Reserve in 1997 and became a national park in 1999.
The discovery adds to Assam’s biodiversity records and shows that Dibru-Saikhowa can yield species beyond the rare birds and mammals for which the protected area is better known.