A new genus and species of fairyfly, Tinkerbella nana (Hymenoptera, Mymaridae), with comments on its sister genus Kikiki, and discussion on small size limits in arthropods

2013/04/24 by John Huber, John Noyes · 1 voice · 5 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Hymenoptera taxonomy and phylogeny #Insect-Plant Interactions and Control #Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy

paper · doi:10.3897/jhr.32.4663

openalex publication_date 2013/04/24 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31

Abstract

A new genus and species of fairyfly, Tinkerbella nana (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) gen. n. and sp. n., is described from Costa Rica. It is compared with the related genus Kikiki Huber and Beardsley from the Hawaiian Islands, Costa Rica and Trinidad. A specimen of Kikiki huna Huber measured 158 µm long, thus holding the record for the smallest winged insect. The smallest size possible, as measured by body length, for flying insects and wingless arthropods is discussed.

Cited by

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• Small Is Beautiful: Features of the Smallest Insects and Limits to Miniaturization
• How small is the smallest? New record and remeasuring of Scydosella musawasensis Hall, 1999 (Coleoptera, Ptiliidae), the smallest known free-living insect
• Phylogeny and systematics of Sphaeriusidae (Coleoptera: Myxophaga): minute living fossils with underestimated past and present‐day diversity
• List of organisms named after works of fiction [wikipedia]

Discussions

• Apparently mites yes, but insects hit the limit at larger sizes? (I got curious and found a discussion here doi.org/10.3897/jhr....) (It's 10+ years old, might be newly described examples out though) [bsky, 4 points, 2 comments]

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