Insect species named after former VC
So what is new about the discovery of a new, remarkable species of thripidae found in Bangalore?
It's named after a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Madras, Fr. S. Ignacimuthu.
This species of thripidae (part of the thrips family of insects) was found living on the leaves of Jak, a common native fruit tree in south India.
According to scientists, J.S. Bhatti of the University of Delhi and H.R. Ranganath, Division of Entomology in the Indian Institute of Horticultural research, Bangalore, it was surprising that the common species had not been detected so far.
Jakthrips ignacimuthui, new genus and species, has only a superficial resemblance with thirps, but is not closely related to any known genus of Thripidae.
The two biologists found numerous specimen of the bugs in Hessaraghatta, the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research and neighbouring areas. A large number was actually found on leaves of Moraccae plants since May - June 2005.
The new species was named after Rev. S. Ignacimuthu "who made the team's visits to Chennai, especially, the Entamology Research Institute at Loyola College, Chennai, more fruitful," according to the article that appeared in the journal Oriental Insects, Vol. 40: 379 - 380, 2006.
K. RAMACHANDRAN
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