aphelinid wasp; Encarsia formosa
A tiny parasitic wasp used in biological pest control, especially against whiteflies. The name is typically written in katakana.
Encarsia formosa is used as a natural enemy of the greenhouse whitefly.
Katakana spelling is standard for this insect name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is rare and may not be widely recognized; included for reference.
The name combines 艶 (つや, 'luster') with 小蜂 (こばち, 'small wasp'), referring to the shiny appearance of this tiny parasitic wasp. The katakana spelling is standard in modern usage.