Attenboroughnculus

The name Attenboroughculus is a portmanteau and an eponym, named after Sir David Attenborough and merged with the subfamily type genus Pedunculus.^[1][4] The genus was named in celebration of Attenborough's 100th birthday, and to honour his work inspiring generations to appreciate nature and pursue natural history.^[1][5][6]

The specific epithet of the sole species, A. tau, is a reference to the insect's two T-shaped markings on its abdomen.^[7][4][8]

The body length of the specimen is ~3.5 mm (~0.14 in) long.^[4][9] Its prominent features are its strongly curved abdominal segment, polished groove on its hind legs, and subtle, teethlike structures on its ovipositor.^[1][6][10] It's front wing has a span of 3.9 mm (0.15 in).^[1]

The type specimen was collected in 1983 in Valdivia Province, Chile and found its way in the Natural History Museum in London, where it went unsorted for over 40 years.^[4][10] Augustijn De Ketelaere, a volunteer and graduate student from Ghent University, discovered the insect while examining various unidentified ichneumon wasps in the museum's collection. The principle curator of insects at the museum, Dr. Gavin Broad, corroborated the distinctiveness of the specimen, leading to the erection of the new genus.^[9][10][11]

As of 2026, there is only one specimen recorded of Attenboroughnculus.^[12]

• List of things named after David Attenborough and his works