{"id":10275,"date":"2026-03-14T12:35:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T07:05:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/exams\/?p=10275"},"modified":"2026-03-16T14:26:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T08:56:04","slug":"new-parasitic-wasp-species-discovered-in-assam-tea-estate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/new-parasitic-wasp-species-discovered-in-assam-tea-estate\/","title":{"rendered":"New Parasitic Wasp Species Discovered in Assam Tea Estate"},"content":{"rendered":"<p dir=\"ltr\">Researchers have discovered a previously unknown parasitic wasp species in a tea estate in Assam, revealing the hidden biodiversity in plantation ecosystems. Named Chelonus (Carinichelonus) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"mahadeb\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpza53mg6qs2z0fz\">mahadeb<\/span>, the species was identified at the <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Nahortoli\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpza53imwxc7e5ys\">Nahortoli<\/span> Tea Estate during a taxonomic survey. The study was conducted by scientists from the Zoological Survey of India, the University of Guelph (Canada), and the Kalinga Foundation. Another related species, <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Chelonus\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpza571b2lbcjg67\">Chelonus<\/span> <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"siangensis\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpza56z57bjhryl2\">siangensis<\/span>, was also recorded at Chubwa Tea Estate, showing a wider distribution in Northeast India. These findings expand scientific knowledge of parasitic wasps and highlight their potential role in natural pest control in agricultural landscapes.<\/p>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\">New Parasitic Wasp Species Found in Assam Tea Estate<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Chelonus\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpza5hljoubcd4po\">Chelonus<\/span> (<span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Carinichelonus\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpza5hknw6ciuhg6\">Carinichelonus<\/span>) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"mahadeb\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpza5hkx0cy08qmp\">mahadeb<\/span> belongs to the rare and poorly documented <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"subgenus\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpza5hj7mna5k1xj\">subgenus<\/span> <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Carinichelonus\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpza5hj1ipwb0frl\">Carinichelonus<\/span>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The discovery in <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Nahortoli\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpza5kkr19omqa33\">Nahortoli<\/span> Tea Estate demonstrates that cultivated areas can support diverse insect life.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Chelonus\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpza5ocq1xc6rtvj\">Chelonus<\/span> <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"siangensis\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpza5obutrsokd3q\">siangensis<\/span> was also recorded in <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Chubwa\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpza5oa5jcoep953\">Chubwa<\/span> Tea Estate, indicating a broader regional presence.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">These wasps are egg-larval <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"parasitoids\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpza5vtb4h3hyfgh\">parasitoids<\/span>: they lay eggs in moth or butterfly eggs, and their larvae feed on the host, naturally controlling pests.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Parasitic wasps help reduce crop-damaging caterpillars and can support sustainable agriculture by reducing chemical pesticide use.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Documenting such species increases knowledge of India\u2019s <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"parasitoid\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpza5z18bwsxkwwb\">parasitoid<\/span> diversity, which is still largely unexplored.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Tea plantations in Assam serve as biodiversity hotspots, hosting insects, spiders, birds, and other arthropods.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Understanding these ecological relationships can help design environmentally friendly pest management practices.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\">Previous Year Questions and Answers<\/h2>\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"8\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Question (with Options)<\/th>\n<th>Answer<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>In which year was tea discovered in Assam?<br \/>\n(A) 1820<br \/>\n(B) 1823<br \/>\n(C) 1826<br \/>\n(D) 1830<\/td>\n<td>B) 1823<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Which river flows through Assam?<br \/>\n(A) Ganga<br \/>\n(B) Brahmaputra<br \/>\n(C) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Yamuna\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpza879nar3diy2m\">Yamuna<\/span><br \/>\n(D) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Godavari\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpza8yk135unte8h\">Godavari<\/span><\/td>\n<td>B) Brahmaputra<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Majuli is famous as the largest ___ in the world.<br \/>\n(A) Lake<br \/>\n(B) Island<br \/>\n(C) Forest<br \/>\n(D) Hill Station<\/td>\n<td>B) Island<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Who was the founder of the <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Ahom\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpza9q5c7bezwfvo\">Ahom<\/span> kingdom in Assam?<br \/>\n(A) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Pratap\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzaex8wfccl8hi8\">Pratap<\/span> <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Singha\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzaex7rns35vb87\">Singha<\/span><br \/>\n(B) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Sukapha\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzaaifhzfoyooub\">Sukapha<\/span><br \/>\n(C) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Rudra\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzaeg1d5d7q0283\">Rudra<\/span> <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Singha\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzaeg0ojburgffh\">Singha<\/span><br \/>\n(D) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Pushya\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzaeje37z9isfir\">Pushya<\/span> <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Varman\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzaejdk6ohl1iiw\">Varman<\/span><\/td>\n<td>B) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Sukapha\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzaeu444y6ehbf0\">Sukapha<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>When was the first session of Assam <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Sahitya\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzabaaue8yt2nxn\">Sahitya<\/span> <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Sabha\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzaba9nlfuy7jju\">Sabha<\/span> held?<br \/>\n(A) 1905<br \/>\n(B) 1917<br \/>\n(C) 1921<br \/>\n(D) 1930<\/td>\n<td>B) 1917<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Who was Assam\u2019s first Chief Minister after Independence?<br \/>\n(A) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Gopinath\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzac1v3k775d12c\">Gopinath<\/span> <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Bordoloi\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzac1unf2vetbqe\">Bordoloi<\/span><br \/>\n(B) Bimala Prasad Chaliha<br \/>\n(C) Sarat Chandra Sinha<br \/>\n(D) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Hiteswar\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzactl75fxpgc1s\">Hiteswar<\/span> <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Saikia\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzactla2dgk5nau\">Saikia<\/span><\/td>\n<td>A) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Gopinath\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzadlj7ierocnnz\">Gopinath<\/span> <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Bordoloi\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzadliczghs9r9s\">Bordoloi<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>When was the first railway service introduced in Assam?<br \/>\n(A) 1872<br \/>\n(B) 1882<br \/>\n(C) 1892<br \/>\n(D) 1902<\/td>\n<td>B) 1882<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Which is a traditional Assamese drink?<br \/>\n(A) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Lassi\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzaecu9kskwzhqt\">Lassi<\/span><br \/>\n(B) Tea<br \/>\n(C) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Apong\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzaemqscxvsfrjj\">Apong<\/span><br \/>\n(D) Coffee<\/td>\n<td>C) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Apong\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzaepvczjhqy6ov\">Apong<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Which rice variety is traditionally from Assam?<br \/>\n(A) Joha Rice<br \/>\n(B) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Basmati\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzaf2xc611w0qhh\">Basmati<\/span><br \/>\n(C) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Sona\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzaf6n2tdscuwpn\">Sona<\/span> <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Masuri\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzaf6m3sbjfxirn\">Masuri<\/span><br \/>\n(D) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Gobindobhog\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzafif0p0bcp6sp\">Gobindobhog<\/span><\/td>\n<td>A) Joha Rice<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Which is the capital city of Assam?<br \/>\n(A) Guwahati<br \/>\n(B) Shillong<br \/>\n(C) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Dispur\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzafuxjluv1zyp8\">Dispur<\/span><br \/>\n(D) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Tezpur\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzafxzt6m6n84iq\">Tezpur<\/span><\/td>\n<td>C) <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"Dispur\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzag1jgy2y7im4f\">Dispur<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10587\" src=\"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-16-142517-300x192.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-16-142517-300x192.png 300w, https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-16-142517-768x492.png 768w, https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-16-142517.png 981w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/From 1776 to 2026: Adam Smith's Lessons for the Global Economy\">From 1776 to 2026: Adam Smith&#8217;s Lessons for the Global Econom<\/a><\/p>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\">Conclusion (Wasp Species Found in Assam)<\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The discovery of a new parasitic wasp species in Assam highlights the region\u2019s rich and largely unexplored biodiversity. It <span class=\"scayt-misspell-word\" data-scayt-word=\"emphasises\" data-wsc-lang=\"en_US\" data-wsc-id=\"mmpzag8yxli44ff2o\">emphasises<\/span> the ecological importance of tea estates as habitats for rare insects and underlines the role of such species in natural pest control, supporting both conservation and sustainable agriculture.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Researchers have discovered a previously unknown parasitic wasp species in a tea estate in Assam, revealing the hidden biodiversity in plantation ecosystems. Named Chelonus (Carinichelonus) mahadeb, the species was identified at the Nahortoli Tea Estate during a taxonomic survey. The study was conducted by scientists from the Zoological Survey of India, the University of Guelph [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":10276,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-environment"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10275"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10275\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10588,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10275\/revisions\/10588"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}