Celebrating a Centennial Naturalist: A Step-by-Step Guide to Naming a Wasp Species in His Honor
Introduction
When Sir David Attenborough turned 100, the world celebrated his lifetime of natural history storytelling. Among the tributes was a particularly fitting honor: a newly discovered wasp species was named after him. The gesture not only immortalizes his name in taxonomy but also highlights the fascinating process behind naming species after living legends. This guide walks you through the exact steps scientists followed—from discovery to publication—so you can understand how such an honor is bestowed. Whether you are a budding entomologist, a conservation enthusiast, or simply curious about scientific traditions, this step-by-step roadmap will demystify the journey.
What You Need
- A newly discovered insect specimen (preserved and ethically collected with proper permits)
- Access to taxonomic literature and online databases (e.g., ZooBank, GBIF)
- Microscopy equipment (stereomicroscope, imaging tools for morphological analysis)
- DNA sequencing facilities (optional but increasingly standard for species delimitation)
- A peer-reviewed journal that publishes taxonomic descriptions (e.g., Zootaxa, Systematic Entomology)
- Permission or agreement from the person being honored (informal or formal, as per journal guidelines)
- Collaborators with expertise in the insect group (often needed for validation)
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Discover the New Species
The journey begins in the field or museum collection. Researchers must first identify a specimen that cannot be matched to any known species. For the Attenborough wasp, entomologists likely collected the insect during a biodiversity survey, noted its unique wing venation or genital morphology, and documented the locality (e.g., a tropical forest in Southeast Asia). Ensure your discovery is ethically sourced: obtain collecting permits, follow local regulations, and preserve specimens in 70-95% ethanol for DNA work. Label every specimen with precise GPS coordinates, date, and collector name.
Step 2: Conduct a Thorough Description
Once you have a candidate, produce a formal species description. This includes:
- Morphological examination – measure body parts, count antennal segments, examine color patterns.
- Diagnostic comparison – contrast your specimen with closely related species using existing keys and type images.
- DNA barcoding – sequence a standard gene fragment (e.g., COI) to confirm genetic distinctiveness.
Step 3: Choose the Name and Justify It
Naming a species after someone requires more than admiration. The ICZN rules allow commemorative names, but they must not be offensive or commercial. For living persons, it’s courteous—and often required—to obtain consent. In Attenborough’s case, his team likely received a notification, and he expressed being “completely overwhelmed.” Write a brief justification in your paper: explain the honoree’s contributions to natural history, conservation, or the field of study. Avoid excessive flattery; stick to factual achievements.
Step 4: Publish in a Peer-Reviewed Journal
Submit your manuscript to an appropriate taxonomic journal. The review process ensures scientific rigor: external experts check your identification, description, and name availability. You must register the new name in ZooBank (the official registry of zoological names) at the time of publication. The Attenborough wasp likely appeared in a journal like Zootaxa or Journal of Hymenoptera Research. After acceptance, the species becomes officially named and enters the public record.
Step 5: Announce and Celebrate (Optional but Recommended)
Once published, you can share the news with the honoree and the public. Press releases, social media, and museum exhibits help highlight the connection between taxonomy and public appreciation of nature. Attenborough’s 100th birthday announcement included statements from the research team and the wasp’s description. This step is not mandatory but amplifies the impact and encourages interest in the natural world.
Tips for a Successful Naming
- Check name availability – Use ZooBank and other databases to ensure your proposed name hasn’t been used for another species.
- Follow grammatical rules – If you name after a person, the epithet must be in the genitive case (e.g., attenboroughi for a man, attenboroughae for a woman, attenboroughorum for plural).
- Consult the honoree early – Avoid surprises; many journals require a letter of permission.
- Maintain scientific integrity – The name should not be frivolous. Honoring a figure like Attenborough, who championed biodiversity, reinforces the species’ conservation value.
- Document everything – Keep meticulous records of specimen data and genetic sequences for future reference.
- Collaborate with taxonomists – Naming a wasp correctly requires specialized knowledge; co-authors with expertise in Hymenoptera are invaluable.
By following these steps, you can contribute to the tradition of honoring naturalists through taxonomy, just as the wasp species named after Sir David Attenborough does. The process may be rigorous, but the result—a living, scientific tribute—lasts for centuries.