PhD student looking for help

Each of our County Moth Recorders has been contacted by Iona Cunningham-Eurich at UCL regarding a research project on nocturnal ichneumonid wasps and an edited version of her request appears below:

My name is Iona Cunningham-Eurich, and I am a second-year PhD student at the Natural History Museum (NHM), London, and University College London (UCL), under the supervision of Dr. Gavin Broad (NHM) and Prof. Seirian Sumner (UCL). My research focuses on parasitoid wasps, specifically comparing generalist and specialist species. I am reaching out to the local moth-trapping community to find anyone who would be interested in helping to collect wasp specimens. We are aiming to collect geographically well-distributed nocturnal parasitoids belonging to the genera Netelia and Ophion between May and September of this year (2024). These wasps are attracted to light, including moth traps, and are easily recognisable given that they are relatively large and orange. 

The aims of this project are twofold: (1) to create a snapshot in time of the diversity and distributions of UK nocturnal parasitoids (information that is largely lacking) and (2) to perform a molecular genetics project. The collection process would proceed as follows: we will send packs of tubes containing 70% ethanol to participants (the specimens must be collected in ethanol for genetics). After sampling, participants would send the tubes back to the Natural History Museum every month or so. All equipment and postage will be provided. Once we receive the wasps, we will identify them and they will be integrated into the NHM Hymenoptera collections (with credit to the collector). Some will also be used for the genetics study.

We would like to hear from anyone who is interested, but particularly from people who trap multiple times a month in one or multiple woodland sites between May and September. Even if you are not personally interested in helping, please feel free to share this email with other expert moth-trappers who fulfil the above criteria and may be interested. However, please note that due to limited funding, participation may need to be capped. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions. Thank you for your interest and I hope to hear from you soon. 

If interested please contact Iona direct at either iona.cunningham-eurich.16@ucl.ac.uk or iona.cunninghameurich@nhm.ac.uk