College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences

November 17, 2017 Alumni, In the News, School of Biology and Ecology, Undergraduate students

The Associated Press reported University of Maine student Hillary Morin Peterson discovered a new species of wasp. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry said Peterson discovered the species, which doesn’t sting, while conducting work for her thesis. The Brunswick resident named the wasp Ormocerus dirigoius, in tribute to Maine’s motto, “Dirigo,” which means “I lead” in Latin, AP reported. Peterson found the wasp while doing research in collaboration with the Maine Forest Service on invasive winter moths. Peterson is now studying entomology as a graduate student at Pennsylvania State University, according to the report. Her discovery of the new species is documented in a paper that appeared in the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, the article states. CBS News, ABC News, San Francisco Chronicle, Tampa Bay Times, Houston Chronicle, Maine Public, WLBZ (Channel 2), WMTW (Channel 8 in Portland) and Portland Press Heraldcarried the AP report.