Not all wasps are pests. Although we think of wasps as a nuisance, in many parts of the world and even in the US, wasps are actually quite good at controlling other pests. Sometimes, after their discovery, a new species is given a celebrity name.
Meet Conobregma bradpitti
This particular South African wasp was discovered by the University of Thailand. It is a type of wasp that becomes a parasite on harmful moth and butterfly larvae. They lay their eggs into the host, which then begins to harden and acts like a wasp cocoon. Fully grown wasps emerge and the cycle begins again. For the wasp family of insects, this one is a beneficial predator.
Brad Pitt
University researcher, Buntika A. Butcher, was allowed to name the wasp and she choose C bradpitti because of the long hours of research spent under a poster of … you guessed it … Brad Pitt.
It just goes to show you that being famous has its perks, even to the point of getting a wasp named after you. You’ve gotta love it!
For NJ pest control at its finest, if you have any questions about wasps of any type, where to look for them and what to do, please contact Allison Pest Control. We offer a free pest inspection, and have been proudly serving the Monmouth and Ocean Counties since 1917.