Thousands of years ago, according to Greek myth, the nymph Cyllena nurtured the infant Hermes, messenger of the gods and famously the swiftest of the twelve Olympians, on Mt. Kyllini in southern Greece.
Now, in that same mountain, researchers from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens have identified a completely new genus and species of subterranean freshwater snail living in a single isolated spring on its slopes. In a fitting nod to the area’s mythology, and perhaps a bit of irony, given the messenger god’s legendary speed, they named it Cyllena hermes.
The full details of the discovery have been published as a research article in Subterranean Biology, a peer-reviewed open-access journal published by the International Society for Subterranean Biology.
Live specimens of Cyllenahermes gen. et sp. nov. A–F live mature specimen, shown from the moment of emergence from the shell to active locomotion while foraging G–I another mature specimen; White arrows indicate the direction of movement J immature specimen floating at the water surface while feeding K caddisfly case (Insecta, Trichoptera) constructed from gastropod shells, including shells of Cyllenahermes gen. et sp. nov. Scale bars: 1 mm. Credit to Radea et al., 2026
So far, the snail is known from just one place on Earth: a karstic spring roughly 610 meters up the mountain’s foothills, in the Korinthia region of the Peloponnese. There, groundwater seeps out of carbonate bedrock and forms a small stream that feeds toward Lake Stymphalia, part of the sprawling underground hydrological network beneath the Stymphalia closed karst basin.
Type locality of Cyllenahermes gen. et sp. nov., Korinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Karstic spring waters emerging from Mt Kyllini and forming a stream flowing toward Lake Stymphalia. Credit to Radea et al., 2026
Because the snail relies entirely on this single, isolated water source, it is highly sensitive to environmental stressors such as prolonged droughts and water extraction for surrounding neighboring areas, leading the research team to classify the species as Vulnerable under the IUCN Red List criteria.
When establishing this new monotypic genus and species, the researchers chose a name steeped in ancient Greek mythology tied to the mountain itself. The genus honours Cyllena, the nymph who raised Hermes there, while the species name pays tribute to Hermes himself, who legend says was born in a cave on that same mountain, where the new snail species was found.
Cyllenahermes gen. et sp. nov. Views from a single immature specimen. A dorsal view B ventral view C, D lateral view E–G scanning electron micrographs of shell and protoconch respectively. Scale bars: 1 mm (A–E); 100 μm (F); 50 μm (G). Credit to Radea et al., 2026
This significant finding highlights the rich, yet often undocumented biodiversity dwelling within Greece’s extensive underground karst ecosystems, while also bringing attention to the fragile nature of these highly localized environments.
Original source: Radea C, Protopapas D, Parmakelis A, Koskeridou E (2026) From the dark to the light: A new genus and species of stygobiont hydrobiid (Caenogastropoda, Truncatelloidea) from southern Greece. Subterranean Biology 57: 1-21. https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.57.189090
Giant salamanders of the genus Andrias are the largest living amphibians on Earth and, it turns out, more diverse than previously known. For many years, Chinese giant salamanders were classified as a single widespread species. But through recent molecular and morphological research, they have been shown to harbor far greater species richness than previously recognised.
Now, a collaborative team of researchers has formally described a new species: Andrias yaoluopingensis, discovered in the Yaoluoping National Nature Reserve in Yuexi County, Anhui Province, China. The full description is available in the open-access journal Zoosystematics and Evolution.
New Giant Salamander from the Mountain Streams
Holotype of Andriasyaoluopingensis (HSA25201). A. Dorsalateral view in life; B. Environment of the sampling location. Photos credit to Zhihao Jiang and Kai Zhao.
The salamander was first found sheltering among stone crevices in the Macao River at an elevation of 948 meters. Researchers employed an integrative taxonomic approach, combining mitochondrial DNA analysis with detailed morphological examination, to confirm its status as a distinct species.
Holotype of Andrias yaoluopingensis (HSA25201) in life. A. Dorsal view; B. Lateral view (right side); C. Ventral view Photo credit to Zhihao Jiang and Song Huang.
Holotype of Andrias yaoluopingensis (HSA25201). A. Dorsal view of head; B. Ventral view of head; C. Ventral view of left fingers; D. Ventral view of left toes Photo credit to Zhihao Jiang and Song Huang.
Andrias yaoluopingensis, or the Yaoluoping Giant Salamander, is distinguished from other known giant salamanders by several physical characteristics: a notably flat head and trunk; slight webbing between the digits; a tan dorsal surface marked with darker blotches in life; and irregularly distributed tubercles above the eyes.
The discovery brings the total number of recognised Andrias species worldwide to six.
Conservation Implications
The discovery highlights the pressing need for deeper field surveys to uncover overlooked biodiversity in unexplored regions. Wild populations of Chinese giant salamanders have suffered severe declines across the country, primarily driven by overexploitation, as well as habitat loss and environmental degradation. The researchers stress that:
[…] for these critically endangered organisms, more field surveys and further classification at the species level are necessary and urgent.
The morphological and molecular data provided by this discovery will serve as a crucial reference for the targeted conservation of different giant salamander lineages, proper genetic management, and the successful release of artificially bred populations.
Original source:
Jiang Z, Huang R, Yang J, Zhao K, Zhang Y, Zhang T, Zhang Y, Chu J, Chen J, Huang S (2026) A new species of the Giant Salamander genus Andrias (Amphibia, Urodela, Cryptobranchidae) from Yuexi, Anhui, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 102(2): 649-658. https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.179377
The new species, which was described based on morphological characteristics and DNA barcoding from worker, gyne and male castes, brings the total number of Messor species known from Bulgaria to nine.
An international team of researchers has announced the discovery of a new species of harvester ant, officially named Messor odrysarum. The discovery was made by researchers Albena Lapeva-Gjonova of Sofia University in Bulgaria and Lech Borowiec of the University of Wrocław in Poland.
The findings were recently published in the scientific journal ZooKeysand bring the total number of recognized Messor ant species in Bulgaria to nine.
A Nod to Ancient History
Messor odrysarum sp. nov., major worker: A. dorsal view; B. lateral view. Scale bar: 2 mm. Credit to L. Borowiec.
Messor odrysarum sp. nov., major worker: A. head and antennae; B. head sculpture Scale bar: 2 mm. Credit to L. Borowiec.
The newly identified ant is part of the Messor genus, a group well-known for their ecological role as grain and seed collectors in arid and semi-arid environments. The researchers chose the specific name “odrysarum” to honor the ancient Thracian state of Odrysia (roughly founded in early 5th century BC), whose historical geographical borders included the region where this new species was found.
Habitat and Behavior
Messorodrysarum sp. nov.: A. type locality; B. nest construction. Credit to A. Lapeva-Gjonova.
Messor odrysarum is a lowland species that has been documented at elevations up to 647 meters in the Eastern Rhodopes region of Bulgaria. Researchers discovered their nests situated along dirt roads within oak forests and open grasslands. The nest entrances are built at ground level and “in late summer, seed remains were observed near the nest entrances”.
Messor odrysarum sp. nov. is currently only known from the Eastern Rhodopes in Bulgaria, possibly also occurring in the Thracian region of Greece and Türkiye.
explain the researchers in their article.
Distinct Physical Characteristics
Messor odrysarum sp. nov., gyne head. Scale bar: 1 mm. Credit to L. Borowiec.
Messor oertzeni, gyne head Scale bar: 1 mm. Credit to A. Lapeva-Gjonova.
Confirmed through both rigorous morphological analysis and modern COI DNA barcoding, Messor odrysarum belongs to the Messor structor species group. While it is closely related to the known Balkan-Anatolian species Messor oertzeni, there are several distinctive physical traits that make the newly discovered ant stand out.
It has a smaller overall body size compared to its close relatives and it is accented only by reddish hues on the lower genae (the cheek region of the head). It also has a narrowed head behind the eyes, longer and denser hairs (setae) on its head and midsection, and a longer antennal scape.
Scientific Significance
The formal description of Messor odrysarum helps to resolve ongoing taxonomic complexities within the Messor genus, which is known for cryptic diversity and remarkable reproductive strategies like hybridization or even xenoparity, where female gives birth to, or clones, offspring of a completely different species as part of its lifecycle.
In addition to introducing the new species, the researchers’ publication also provides a rare, updated redescription of the queen (gyne) caste of the related M. oertzeni based on newly collected specimens.
Original source:
Lapeva-Gjonova A, Borowiec L (2026) A new species of Messor from Bulgaria and redescription of the gyne of M. oertzeni Forel, 1910 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 1275: 145-168. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1275.181745
Within the project, Pensoft is to bridge the gap between complex science and accessible digital experiences, playing a central technical and communications role.
Pensoft will lead the communication, dissemination and exploitation activities of the EU Horizon project BALANSED (Biomass Assessment of Land and Sea for Engagement and Deliberation), while also developing innovative digital tools that support informed public participation in environmental decision-making.
As Europe’s Green Deal goal is fast approaching, policy-makers are increasingly faced with tough choices regarding the use of natural resources. The project was inspired by the need for conflict resolution as main objectives, such as the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure, the protection of biodiversity and the securing of food production have started to compete with one another. Scientific models are good at predicting the environmental impact of various actions, but not so good at factoring in the views, interests and priorities of people who will be directly affected by those decisions.
That is where BALANSED comes in.
The Project:
This 54-month project, between 1 June 2026 and 30 November 2030, funded under Horizon Europe, aims to change the way environmental planning and natural resource management is carried out across Europe. Advanced scientific modelling joins forces with community driven deliberation to ensure that climate and environmental policies are not only scientifically sound, but also socially fair, transparent and broadly supported.
BALANSED is an EU project helping citizens, policymakers, and scientists make better decisions about the environment – balancing land and sea use, biodiversity, and local economies.
It will turn complex environmental data into simple, understandable indicators, so communities can clearly see how different choices affect them. The tools will be tested in six local study regions and two cross-regional ones, tackling issues like water shortages, farming, forestry, and ocean management.
The project will also launch an Online European Public Deliberation Platform and Deliberation Toolkit to support informed public debate on environmental planning across all European regions.
Between 8 and 9 June 2026 representatives from all 13 partner organisations met in Wageningen, Netherlands, to kick off the project.
Central discussions focused on how environmental decisions can better balance ecological and societal needs. A key theme was the importance of involving citizens, researchers, and policymakers together from day one.
Pensoft’s role:
Pensoft bridges the gap between complex science and accessible digital experiences, playing a central technical and communications role in BALANSED across three key areas:
Digital tools – as lead of Work Package 6, Pensoft will turn scientific data and models into intuitive digital interfaces, including online deliberation software and tailored digital environments for each of the study regions
EU-wide platform – Pensoft will build the final Online European Public Deliberation Platform, integrated directly with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre to support decision-making across all European regions
Communications & impact – drawing on its expertise in science communication, Pensoft leads Work Packages 8 and 9, ensuring the project’s findings are widely shared and put to use across Europe
The Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) is ranked among the 100 worst invasive species in the Mediterranean Sea. In the spring and summer of 2023, the Northern Adriatic experienced an unprecedented demographic outbreak of the species. To understand why this explosion happened so quickly and how to manage it, a team of researchers from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and other Italian institutes set out to study the crab’s biology and ecology. The results have been published in the open-access journal Aquatic Invasions.
From Precaution to Emergency
Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus). Images credit to Marco Boschiero.
The continuous spread of the species in the years leading up to our study prompted us to monitor its population, as very little was known about it in our area.
explains Chiara Facca of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and one of the researchers.
Because the blue crab is a highly versatile predator that targets bivalve mollusks, researchers were deeply concerned about the potential threats to local sectors, particularly traditional small-scale lagoon fisheries and Manila clam farming in the region.
The original goal was to prevent future damage, but right at the start of the study, the crab’s population turned into a real emergency, forcing the team to adapt their research objectives to manage the crisis.
The “Small Scale” Advantage: A Perfect Storm for Proliferation
Map of sampling stations near Chioggia: CHN and CHS (Venice Lagoon), PELL (Adriatic coast), and BR (Brenta River mouth). Credit to Boschiero et al., 2026
One of the most critical discoveries from the research is that these invasive crabs are completing their entire, complex life cycle within an incredibly small area comprising of a spatial gradient of just 2 to 9 kilometers separating riverine, lagoon, and marine habitats.
Why does this matter? In the crab’s native range, such as the Chesapeake Bay in the United States, female blue crabs often have to migrate massive distances, up to 150-200 kilometers, to reach the higher-salinity open sea to spawn. This long migration often forces females to overwinter mid-journey as temperatures drop, significantly extending the time it takes to successfully spawn.
Female blue crab specimen tangled in a net in the Venice Lagoon. Credit to Federico Riccato.
In the Northern Adriatic, the close proximity of the Brenta River, the Venice Lagoon, and the Adriatic Sea allows the reproductive cycle to occur much more rapidly. Because females do not have to undertake long migrations, they avoid the need to overwinter, which likely allows them to spawn eggs two or three times within a single reproductive season. This spatial compression, combined with the crabs’ high fecundity – averaging over 2 million eggs per mass, with peaks reaching nearly 6 million – accelerates the species’ proliferation and makes the population incredibly difficult to control.
A Surprising Discovery at the River Mouth
Blue crab eggs in an early stage of maturation viewed under a stereomicroscope. Credit to Marco Boschiero.
We were remarkably surprised by the speed at which the species adapted and proliferated across the region. Our findings demonstrate that the Northern Adriatic Sea provides the ideal environmental conditions for this species to thrive.
the team explained.
However, the data revealed a fascinating paradox regarding where the crabs were found versus how healthy they were.
While male crabs were highly abundant at the Brenta River mouth station (an oligohaline, or low salinity, environment), they exhibited a significantly poorer “relative condition factor” (a measure of weight and health) compared to crabs in the lagoon and marine stations. The study suggests this lower condition factor is due to the high energy the crabs must consume for osmoregulation in lower-salinity waters, coupled with a lack of their favorite food source, the bivalve mollusks, which are far more abundant in the nearby coastal and lagoon habitats.
Targeted Management: What Can Be Done?
Blue crab catches tangled in nets in the Venice Lagoon. Credit to Federico Riccato.
Eradicating the Atlantic blue crab is virtually impossible due to its high adaptability, rapid mobility, and ubiquitous distribution across the Mediterranean. However, the researchers emphasize that targeted management strategies are highly feasible.
Blue crab specimens caught with a crab pot. Credit to Marco Boschiero.
Control measures should exploit specific life-history events observed in the study. For instance, the research confirmed that females consistently migrate to higher-salinity marine waters during the spring and summer to spawn. By concentrating harvesting efforts on females during this spawning period at critical geographic bottlenecks, such as lagoon inlets and river mouths, authorities could significantly control population abundance. This targeted approach is essential for mitigating the severe economic impacts on local ecosystems, traditional small-scale fisheries, and clam aquaculture.
Looking Ahead
While this study serves as a critical baseline for understanding the blue crab dynamics in the Northern Adriatic Sea, the research team warns against making assumptions. Many facets of the species’ biology, ecology, and behavior in this invaded range remain unexplored, and these traits may not perfectly mirror those observed in its native habitat or other invaded regions globally. There is still a vast amount of research to be done to fully comprehend and manage this unprecedented ecological phenomenon.
Original source:
Boschiero M, Facca C, Cavraro F, Redolfi Bristol S, Gavioli A, Riccato F, Zucchetta M, Franzoi P (2026) Ecology and biology of Callinectes sapidus in the Northern Adriatic Sea: could the small spatial scale explain its outbreak? Aquatic Invasions 21(1): 49-72. https://doi.org/10.3391/ai.2026.21.1.180751
A research team from the Natural History Museum of Denmark has published a compelling new study in insect taxonomy in the open-access journal ZooKeys, officially establishing a new genus of rove beetle (Staphylinina): Luffy gen. nov. The inspiration for the name comes directly from Monkey D. Luffy, the iconic protagonist of the globally popular manga and anime One Piece.
Why Name a Beetle Genus “Luffy”?
The research team noted that naming the new genus Luffy was not merely for fun, but rather a direct reflection of the beetles’ highly recognizable morphological characteristics.
Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece. Credit to One Piece Wiki. The newly described beetle – Luffy nika. Credit to Hu & Solodovnikov, 2026
The species within this genus possess mandibles, antennae, and maxillary palps that are significantly longer and more slender than those of closely related groups. This uniquely elongated overall proportion immediately reminded researchers of Luffy’s rubber body abilities in One Piece, which allow him to freely stretch and expand.
Two New Beetles in the New Genus
Currently, two distinct species have been discovered and classified under this new genus: Luffy schillhammeri and Luffy nika.
The species Luffy schillhammeri was found in the broadleaf forests of Yunnan Province, China. The specific epithet of Luffy schillhammeri honors Dr. Harald Schillhammer of the Natural History Museum Vienna, recognizing his long-term and outstanding contributions to the research of rove beetles.
Luffy schillhammeri. Credit to Hu & Solodovnikov, 2026
Habitats of Luffy schillhammeri in Yunnan, China. A. Manzhang; B. Manfeng. Credit to Y.-T. Wang.
Monkey D. Luffy with Gear 5. Credit to One Piece and Tempest2x6 via Giphy.
Luffy nika was discovered in Louang Namtha, northern Laos. The specific epithet “nika” originates from Luffy’s legendary Devil Fruit awakening, “Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika” (also known as Gear 5). This new species features striking white band-like hairs on its elytra and across much of its body, closely resembling Luffy’s classic, all-white, smoke-shrouded appearance during his Nika transformation.
Luffynika. Credit to Hu & Solodovnikov, 2026.
Major Scientific Breakthrough: Filling a Key Evolutionary Gap in the Eucibdelus Lineage
Beyond its eye-catching name, this study holds high scientific value. The research team, consisting of PhD student Fang-Shuo Hu and Alexey Solodovnikov from the Natural History Museum of Denmark, systematically reviewed all known genera of the Ocypus-group.
They also included several groups whose taxonomic positions had long been questionable and controversial (such as Acupronotes, Apostenolinus, and Staphylinus). Through the examination of a large number of specimens and rigorous comparisons of subtle morphological features, the team successfully re-evaluated the phylogenetic relationships among these groups and put forward key findings.
Diversity of labrum morphology of Ocypus-group and Staphylinus. A. Luffy; B. Agelosus; C. Cyanocypus; D. Protocypus; E. Ocypus; F. Eucibdelus; G. Guillaumius; H. Menoedius; I. Parapalaestrinus; J. Paraphytolinus; K. Rhynchocheilus; L. Rhyncocheilus; M. Trichocosmetes; N. Staphylinus.
The research team clearly identified the synapomorphies of the “Eucibdelus lineage” (such as the left mandible possessing dorsal ridge teeth and a completely sclerotized labrum). Interestingly, while the genus Luffy possesses these dorsal ridge teeth, its labrum is not completely sclerotized, and it carries several distinct traits of its own.
Based on this morphological evidence, the research team infers that the genus Luffy is highly likely to be the sister group to the entire Eucibdelus lineage. Highlighting that our understanding of this insect lineage is continuously evolving with new discoveries, the researchers note:
This genus exhibits a unique combination of characters intermediate between the Eucibdelus lineage and other members of the Ocypus-group.
Mandibular morphology of Luffy and Eucibdelus lineage. A. Luffy; B. Menoedius; C. Parapalaestrinus; D. Eucibdelus; E. Rhynchocheilus (Photos A by the authors; photos B-E by Q.-H. Zhao). Abbreviations: Abbreviations: BET: basal extra tooth; DR: dorsal ridge; DRT: dorsal ridge teeth; VR: ventral ridge; VRT: ventral ridge teeth. Credit to Hu & Solodovnikov, 2026.
This discovery successfully fills an important gap in the existing taxonomic framework, providing a new perspective on the evolutionary history of the subtribe Staphylinina.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists
From manga inspiration to publication in a rigorous international scientific journal, the birth of the genus Luffy proves that scientific research can be both serious and highly engaging. The research team looks forward to closing the distance between science and the general public through such an accessible story, raising awareness about the importance of biological taxonomy, and attracting more of the younger generation to dive into biodiversity and taxonomic research with an adventurous spirit just like Luffy’s.
Hu F-S, Solodovnikov A (2026) Luffy gen. nov., a new genus of Staphylinina (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylininae), remarkable for understanding the Eucibdelus lineage. ZooKeys 1281: 247-264. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1281.198593
Cover image credit: Luffy nika beetle: Hu & Solodovnikov, 2026; Illustration: One Piece (TV series) Toei Animation and One Piece Wiki.
This research challenges the widely held assumption that temperature niche is the primary force shaping the elevational distribution of mountain butterflies.
A new study published in the open-access journal Alpine Entomology has found that alpine butterflies in the Swiss National Park are closely matching the pace of local warming in their range shift to higher elevations.
Analysing a recent butterfly survey, the research team found that the proportions of available habitat types explained close to half of all variation in butterfly communities, while elevation on its own accounted for only a small fraction of the difference. The finding challenges the widely held assumption that temperature niche is the primary force shaping the elevational distribution of mountain butterflies.
Lead researcher Korbinian Schrauth, of the Chair of Conservation Biology and Forest Ecology at the University of Würzburg, explained what first prompted the team’s hypothesis:
“The common assumption is that temperature adaptation is the main driving force behind the elevational distribution of butterflies in the Alps. But there are a few cases that appear to be contradictory to this assumption.”
He cited the Peak White, a high-alpine butterfly, which has established colonies on lowland gravel banks, after its high-alpine host plants arrived there via alluvial deposits carried down from higher elevations:
“This and similar examples led us to suspect that the elevational distribution of alpine butterflies might be rather driven by available habitats than by temperatures.”
When the results came in, even the researchers were taken aback by how decisively habitats outweighed elevation as an independent explanatory factor.
“At first we were surprised that the amount of variance explained by elevation on its own was that small, but in the end, it fits quite well with our initial considerations and makes perfect sense given the knowledge of the complex ecology of butterflies.”
The study also found that butterfly communities have become measurably more warm-adapted over the past two decades. This shift was least pronounced at high elevations, which still appear to be dominated by cold-adapted alpine species.
At the same time, the average upslope displacement since 2004 corresponded closely to what would be expected from the local warming recorded in the region, suggesting that butterflies overall are keeping pace with the warming climate.
Not all species are faring equally well, however. Those restricted to a narrow range of habitat types showed markedly stronger upward shifts than generalist species, pointing to a particular vulnerability among alpine specialists. As vegetation struggles to keep pace with rising temperatures, specialist butterflies face the added risk of elevational butterfly-hostplant mismatches.
According to Schrauth, the conservation implications are significant:
“One of the implications of our study is that, besides reducing carbon emissions, the protection of alpine habitats is the most important measure for preserving the diversity of alpine butterflies.”
To keep track of future changes, the authors recommend repeating the surveys in the Swiss National Park at roughly ten-year intervals, though Schrauth acknowledged that more frequent monitoring would be preferable.
Original source:
Schrauth K, Plattner M, Müller J, Pellet J (2026) Habitat availability shapes composition and climate change response of alpine butterfly communities. Alpine Entomology 10: 121-135. https://doi.org/10.3897/alpento.10.186978
Cover image:
Butterflies gathering at damp areas of the ground to take up nutrients; such gatherings can give a quick insight into the composition and diversity of alpine butterfly communities. Credit: Korbinian Schrauth.
Between 14-19 June, the 4th World Biodiversity Forum (WBF) brought together ~1,100 participants from 70 countries in Davos, Switzerland. This highly regarded event was held under the theme “Leading Transformation Together,” and united science, arts, society, and business across generations and fields to build the leadership and networks essential for effective biodiversity protection and resilience.
The event spanned 10 thematic tracks, covering topics such as biodiversity-ecosystem functioning, legislation and biodiversity, connecting science, society and practice, and many more.
The opening ceremony at the 4th World Biodiversity Forum in Davos, 2026.
Pensoft had the largest exhibition stand at the forum, and throughout the week it saw a steady flow of attendees interested in the company’s work across EU-funded projects and scholarly publishing, with dissemination materials for both on display.
Pensoft’s stand at the World Biodiversity Forum 2026
Pensoft’s stand at WBF 2026.
Pensoft’s stand at WBF 2026.
At the heart of Pensoft’s presence at the forum were four EU Horizon-funded projects working to turn biodiversity science into action on policy: BioAgora, OBSGESSION, B-Cubed, and OneStop.
As an active consortium partner in each, Pensoft draws on decades of experience in science communication, stakeholder engagement, and data management to help move that work forward. The stand also featured two further policy-oriented projects, CO-OP4CBD and RESPIN,
Attendees also had the chance to learn more about the ARPHA Platform, Pensoft’s self-developed end-to-end publishing solution that streamlines the entire editorial workflow – from manuscript submission and peer review through to editing, publication, and archiving – ultimately making research easy for both people and machines to access, cite, and reuse.
Brochures for Pensoft’s journals featuring the beautiful illustrations by Denitsa Peneva.
Attendees were able to speak directly with members of the Pensoft team, who were on hand to walk them through the journals’ scope, submission processes, and the broader vision behind the diamond open-access model – publishing that is free for both authors and readers.
Journals and brochures published by Pensoft featuring illustrations by Denitsa Peneva.
Aleksandra Korcheva presenting at World Biodiversity Forum 2026
Aleksandra Korcheva presenting at World Biodiversity Forum 2026
Desislava Raykova presenting at WBF 2026.
The presentation explored how a shared narrative can drive collaboration and increase impact among policy-oriented projects working at the science-policy interface, showing how such efforts can be brought to life through policy briefs, illustrations, and interactive science-policy events. The talk drew on communication successes from B-Cubed, OBSGESSION, OneStop, BioAgora, RESPIN and CO-OP4CBD.
This year’s forum offered an opportunity to forge strong networks across policy, science, arts, and business – catalysing future action and, in doing so, to leading transformation together. The next World Biodiversity Forum will be in 2028, so stay tuned to learn more from us!
Scholarly publisher and technology provider Pensoft teamed up with senior research fellows in the field to launch Journal of Regeneration (JoR), a new open-access peer-reviewed journal established to promote a transversal biological perspective connecting developmental biology, evolution, ecology, agriculture, and medicine. JoR aims to explore regeneration – the ability to restore lost or damaged tissues, organs, or entire body structures, across diverse disciplines and kingdoms of life.
The journal intends to cover research ranging from fundamental molecular genetics to clinical translation. Specifically, it seeks to examine recurring principles shared between animals and plants, including cellular plasticity, injury-triggered signalling cascades, and epigenetic remodelling.
“Regeneration research stands at a historic moment. What began as curiosity-driven observation has matured into a multidisciplinary field with profound implications for biology and medicine.”
The Editorial Board
Its scope encompasses a wide variety of animal and plant models rather than limiting focus to a few standard species. JoR covers research leveraging modern analytical tools, such as single-cell transcriptomics, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, transgenesis, and mass spectrometry. Key areas of long-term support outlined by the journal include systems-level understanding, evolutionary regeneration biology, bioengineering, and the intersection of ageing and regeneration.
“I am super excited to be part of building the Journal of Regeneration. I envisage it to become a wonderful platform for regeneration researchers, a way to not only share ideas and resources but perhaps in the future to be integrated in taking an active role in our scientific community.”
Anna Czarkwiani
“I am fully convinced of the goodness of launching the Journal of Regeneration: the future of regeneration science requires dialogue among scientists working on different aspects of the discipline and the JoR is a good tool to foster communication.”
Loriano Ballarin
“I see the Journal of Regeneration as a place where renewal and discovery align, where living systems learn to rebuild and redefine. It gathers voices across biology’s widening frame, to understand how life restores itself again and again.”
Baruch Rinkevich
Powered by Pensoft’s ARPHA platform, the journal will notably offer a fully integrated experience that smoothly coordinates everything from submission and peer review to publication, indexing, sharing, and archiving. Notably, publication in the journal is free during its launching phase.
The founding premise of the journal highlights that understanding regeneration requires exploration across the entire spectrum of life. Thus, JoR aims to serve as a convergence point for traditionally separated fields. Fostering this collaborative dialogue will help accelerate the important shift from studying regenerative mechanisms to actively harnessing them for therapeutic innovation.
Read more about the rationale and aims of the Journal of Regeneration (JoR) in the newly published Editorial Letter.
For more information on the journal’s focus, scope, and guidelines for authors, visit the Journal of Regeneration website and follow us on Bluesky and LinkedIn.
***
About Pensoft:
Founded in 1992 “by scientists, for scientists”, the academic open-access publishing company is well known worldwide for its novel cutting-edge publishing tools, workflows and methods for text and data publishing of journals, books and conference materials. Back in 2010, Pensoft became the first scientific publisher to introduce semantic enrichments in scholarly publications. Through its Research and Technical Development department, the company is involved in various research and technology projects.
About ARPHA Platform:
ARPHA is a full-featured, end-to-end publishing platform for journals, books, conference materials and preprints. ARPHA offers flexible operating and business models, and a wide-range of automated and human-provided services. The ARPHA team places a special focus on its scholarly communication solutions designed to leverage the visibility and outreach of academic output, while promoting inclusivity and engagement.
The next time you post a nature photo online, you might be contributing to a major scientific breakthrough – just as several citizen scientists did when they helped discover the wasp Eupelmus curvator in Japan.
When a series of photos appeared on Twitter (now X) showing an iridescent wasp laying eggs on a praying mantis egg case, researchers from the Kyushu University Museum realised they weren’t looking at a common garden insect. Instead, they were witnessing a species never before seen in Japan: Eupelmus curvator.
“The discovery was made possible through social media,” said Taisuke Kawano, the lead researcher and a specialist in eupelmid wasps at the Kyushu University Museum.
“It all started with a post by a general user who shared a photo capturing a wasp emerging from a mantis egg case. A colleague of mine noticed the post and forwarded it to me via direct message.”
The wasp is the first record of Eupelmus curvator in Japan, a species previously known only to inhabit China. Perhaps more significantly, the recent study provided the first formal scientific description of the male of the species, which had remained a mystery until now.
“Eupelmus curvator is particularly interesting because it parasitises the egg cases of praying mantises.
While some other genera in Eupelmidae are specialised egg parasitoids, most species of Eupelmus attack larvae or pupae of other insects, and only very few are known to develop inside mantis oothecae. This makes Eupelmus curvator a rather unusual and biologically intriguing species.”
Taisuke Kawano
The researchers confirmed that the wasp targets the Narrow-winged Mantis (Tenodera angustipennis), turning the mantis’ future offspring into a nursery for its own young. In one case, a single mantis egg case collected in Fukuoka yielded 77 wasps and only a few surviving mantis nymphs.
In the spring of 2018 and again in 2021, citizen scientists and nature enthusiasts posted images and videos of the wasps’ behaviour on Twitter. Through direct communication on the platform, these users sent specimens to Kawano for identification.
“Social media is becoming an increasingly important tool in citizen science. One of its greatest strengths is that it effectively increases the number of ‘eyes in the field.’ These observations often come from places and times that researchers would not normally be able to cover.
When particularly interesting records appear, we can contact observers directly via social media, and in some cases obtain specimens for further study.”
Taisuke Kawano
To document the tiny find – females measure only about 2.2 to 3.2 mm excluding the ovipositor – the team used advanced macro photography and focus stacking technology to create hyper-detailed images of the wasp’s anatomy.
Eupelmus (Eupelmus) curvator ovipositing on mantis ootheca at Kyushu University Ito campus, Fukuoka. Photo credit: Taisuke Kawano et al., 2026.
Science in Your Backyard
The discovery suggests that even in well-studied regions like Japan, there is a wealth of biodiversity to be uncovered. The key, according to Kawano, is that scientists are now finding it in new ways:
“One of the most exciting aspects is how social media is changing the way we conduct research. The social media platforms allow researchers to encounter observations that would otherwise remain unnoticed, effectively transforming everyday posts into valuable scientific data.”
As for his own social media habits? Kawano admits the line between work and leisure has blurred:
“Personally, I sometimes joke that even when I am browsing social media, I am actually working. And it is sometimes true… though not always.”
Kawano T, Imada S, Noguchi S, Toyosaki K (2026) When your posts yield biodiversity findings: social media-facilitated discovery of Eupelmus (Eupelmus) curvator Yang (Hymenoptera, Eupelmidae) in Japan with notes on its bionomics. Travaux du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle “Grigore Antipa” 69(1): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3897/travaux.69.e171809
