Link to newsround

Meet the Brad Pitt wasp, but he's not a movie star

  • Published
Brad Pitt and Conobregma bradpittiImage source, Getty Images/Dr Buntika A. Butcher/zookeys
Image caption,

Human Brad Pitt is on the left...

Brad Pitt has joined the likes of Sir David Attenborough by having an insect named after him, meet Conobregma bradpitti.

A team of scientists discovered the new type of wasp in South Africa.

When a new insect or animal is discovered, the team who found it can name it.

Usually scientists name it after themselves or another scientist, this time they chose a Hollywood actor.

One of the scientific team spent many hours working in her lab under a poster of her favourite actor, Brad Pitt, so decided to name the wasp after him.

Brad Pitt has appeared in a lot of films and even played characters in animated films, including Megamind and Happy Feet 2.

Conobregma bradpittiImage source, zookeys/Dr Buntika A. Butcher
Image caption,

The new wasp is called Conobregma bradpitti

Brad's wasp is very small, measuring only 2 millimetres in length and breeds by putting its eggs into other insects such as moths.

We're sure he will be pleased with his new wasp namesake!

More on this story

Trending Now