Relevance: GS III (Environment & Agriculture) | Source: Indian Express

1. What is the News?

Scientists have discovered a new species of a tiny wasp named Chelonus mahadeb in the stete of Assam.

2. How Does it Work? (The Science)

• The Bodyguard: This wasp is an ‘egg-larval parasitoid’. Think of it as a natural bodyguard for plants.
• The Process: The mother wasp lays her eggs inside the eggs of harmful crop-eating insects. When the pest egg hatches, the baby wasp hatches inside it and eats the pest from the inside out, naturally killing it.

3. Why is it Important?

• Natural Bio-Pesticide: It helps tea farmers naturally control pests without spraying expensive and toxic chemical pesticides.
• Sustainable Farming: This discovery promotes eco-friendly agriculture, directly supporting SDG 2 (Sustainable Agriculture) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

The “UPSC Trap”

• The “Pest” Trap: UPSC might frame Chelonus mahadeb as a “new invasive pest destroying tea crops.” This is entirely incorrect. It is a beneficial insect that protects crops by eating actual pests.
• Parasite vs. Parasitoid: A normal parasite (like a mosquito) feeds on you but rarely kills you. A parasitoid (like this wasp) always kills its host to survive.

UPSC Value Box

With reference to the newly discovered Chelonus mahadeb and agricultural practices, consider the following statements:

1. It is an invasive pest species that primarily feeds on and destroys tea bushes in North-East India.
2. It acts as an ‘egg-larval parasitoid’ that ultimately kills its host, making it highly useful for biological pest control.
3. Using such organisms in farming helps reduce the reliance on chemical pesticides and promotes sustainable agriculture.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (b)