Scientists name new species of wasp after Boston Bruins goalie Rask

[February 25, 2015]  BOSTON (Reuters) - A team of researchers studying insects in Africa has named a newly discovered species of wasp with a distinctive yellow-and-black pattern after Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask, the Boston Globe reported on Tuesday.

Robert Copeland, a follower of Boston sports and an entomologist at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology in Nairobi, told the newspaper that the wasp’s yellow and black coloring resembles a Boston Bruins jersey.

The research also was underwritten by the government of Finland, where Rask was born.

"This species is named after the acrobatic goaltender for the Finnish national ice hockey team and the Boston Bruins, whose glove hand is as tenacious as the raptorial fore tarsus of this dryinid species," the authors wrote in the paper, which is due to be published in March in the scientific journal Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae.

Rask told the newspaper he was unaware of any animals named after him, other than the occasional fan’s pet cat or dog.

"It's flattering, I guess," he said.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Barber; Editing by Scott Malone and Bill Trott)

[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.