Twitter Post Leads to Discovery of New Wasp Species Eupelmus curvator in Japan

On July 1, 2026, researchers from the Kyushu University Museum announced the discovery of a new wasp species, Eupelmus curvator, in Fukuoka, Japan. This significant find was made possible through a series of photos shared on Twitter, highlighting the role of citizen science in biodiversity research.

Citizen Science and Social Media's Role

The discovery of Eupelmus curvator began with a Twitter post featuring an iridescent wasp laying eggs on a praying mantis egg case. Taisuke Kawano, the lead researcher specializing in eupelmid wasps, emphasized the importance of social media in facilitating scientific breakthroughs. “It all started with a post by a general user who shared a photo capturing a wasp emerging from a mantis egg case. A colleague of mine noticed the post and forwarded it to me via direct message,” said Kawano.

This collaborative effort exemplifies how social media can help researchers identify and study species that may otherwise go unnoticed. The wasp is the first recorded instance of Eupelmus curvator in Japan, previously known only from China. Additionally, the research provided the first formal description of the male of the species, which had remained a mystery.

Unique Biological Traits of Eupelmus curvator

Eupelmus curvator is particularly notable for its parasitic behavior, targeting the egg cases of praying mantises. Kawano explained, “While some other genera in Eupelmidae are specialized egg parasitoids, most species of Eupelmus attack larvae or pupae of other insects, and only very few are known to develop inside mantis oothecae. This makes Eupelmus curvator a rather unusual and biologically intriguing species.”

The researchers confirmed that this wasp species targets the Narrow-winged Mantis (Tenodera angustipennis), effectively turning the mantis' offspring into a nursery for its own young. In one instance, a single mantis egg case collected in Fukuoka yielded 77 wasps alongside a few surviving mantis nymphs.

The Future of Biodiversity Research

This discovery underscores the potential of digital collecting in biodiversity research. Citizen scientists and nature enthusiasts have been instrumental in documenting rare species through social media since as early as 2018. Kawano noted, “Social media is becoming an increasingly important tool in citizen science. One of its greatest strengths is that it effectively increases the number of 'eyes in the field.'”

By utilizing advanced macro photography and focus-stacking technology, the research team created detailed images of the wasp's anatomy, showcasing its unique characteristics. The findings were published in Travaux du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle "Grigore Antipa".

Kawano remarked on the changing landscape of scientific research, stating, “One of the most exciting aspects is how social media is changing the way we conduct research. These observations often come from places and times that researchers would not normally be able to cover.”