A new species of cockroach wasp has been named Ampulex dementor, after public voting at the Museum of Natural History in Berlin.
The wasps were named after Dementors because of their tendency to paralyze their prey before eating it. The researchers said: “The Dementor’s fictional behaviour and effects reminded us of the effect of the stinging behaviour of Ampulex on the behaviour of its cockroach prey”.
Museum visitors were given four names from which they could choose their favourite. The museum has said that involving the public in naming species helps to get them interested in biodiversity and its discovery.