A comprehensive 15-year study published in the Biodiversity Data Journal details the growing threat of extreme weather on White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) in Bulgaria. Long considered a symbol of good fortune and the arrival of spring, white storks hold a cherished place in Bulgarian folklore – their nesting on rooftops traditionally seen as a blessing upon the household.
The research, which is part of the topical collection “Restoration of species of conservation importance,” analyzes the admissions and treatment outcomes of injured storks at the Wildlife Rescue and Breeding Centre (WRBC) of the Green Balkans NGO between 2010 and 2025.
Led by Rusko Petrov alongside Eva Pastir of Trakia University and Gradimir Gradev of the Agricultural University of Plovdiv, the study examines how extreme weather events, specifically sudden spring frosts and wildfires, affect White Stork survival.
Map of the locations where distressed birds have been found – in blue are the locations where White Storks from the first category were found, in red are the ones from the second category. The green dot is the location of the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre of Green Balkans. Credit to Petrov, Pastir & Gradev, 2026.
Of 3,690 storks admitted to the WRBC over the 15-year period, researchers focused on 158 cases attributable to storms, hailstorms, strong winds, snowfalls with low temperatures, and wildfires.
A Tale of Two Disasters
Percentage of storks admitted due to burnt and collapsed nests between 2010-2025. Credit to Petrov, Pastir & Gradev, 2026.
The results revealed a stark contrast in survival depending on the type of weather event. Overall, 49% of the extreme weather victims (77 birds) were successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild, while 51% (81 birds) of the cases were fatal. Only two birds remained permanently disabled and were transferred to other facilities.
Notably, juvenile storks are exceptionally vulnerable to extreme conditions because they are unable to flee the nest. This is particularly tragic during wildfires, which destroy nests and trap the flightless young while adult birds flee. Consequently, survival rates for fire-related incidents were strikingly low at just 33% (32 out of 97 cases). In contrast, storks affected by storms, hailstorms, and sudden snowfalls had a significantly higher rehabilitation success rate of 74% (45 out of 61 cases).
The Climate Change Connection
White stork. Photo via Canva.
The researchers identified distinct geographic and climatic patterns linked to these rescues. Wildfires primarily clustered in the warmer Upper Thracian Plain, driven by prolonged summer heatwaves and human factors. Meanwhile, cold-related rescues were prevalent in the Danubian Plain, where cold continental air masses invade during winter and early spring.
These geographic patterns are consistent with global warming trends.
Warmer winters are prompting storks to migrate earlier, exposing the returning adults to sudden, deadly spring frosts and blizzards.
explain the researchers.
Simultaneously, the increasing frequency of summer heatwaves is fueling the nest-destroying wildfires that threaten the juveniles. Petrov also notes broader implications for other species:
Our research is focused on White Storks, but the impact is similar to many other bird species and most sensitive to it are the migratory and endangered ones.
he explains.
To safeguard the White Stork, the authors underscore the urgent need for enhanced nest protection, improved wildlife rescue efforts, and proactive climate adaptation strategies to conserve the species.
Original source:
Petrov R, Pastir E, Gradev G (2026) Impact of extreme weather on White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) rehabilitation: admissions and outcomes (2010-2025). Biodiversity Data Journal 14: e182547. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.14.e182547
A formal model published in the open-access Agricultural and Environmental Modelling Journal describes the development of APODEMUS, which aims to improve risk assessments of pesticides for the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) in European agricultural landscapes.
A team of international scientists and risk assessment experts has developed a foundational blueprint for an innovative population model, designed to improve environmental safety testing for agricultural pesticides. The tool, named APODEMUS (A POpulation Dynamical spatially Explicit Model of the wood moUSe), was recently published as a “Formal Model” – a novel article type, in the Agricultural and Environmental Modelling journal.
Bridging the Gap Between the Lab and the Field
Currently, environmental risk assessments rely heavily on laboratory toxicity tests (often using Norway rats instead of wild mice) and field studies. While field studies are realistic, they are highly expensive, time-consuming, and are often limited to a few specific locations, crops, and weather conditions.
Wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus). Photo credit to Laura Fokkema via Canva.
The wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) is extremely common across Europe and lives in a wide variety of habitats, including farmlands. Because they eat a broad diet of seeds, plants, and insects, they frequently forage in agricultural fields. Consequently, the European Union uses the wood mouse as a primary “focal species” to evaluate whether a plant protection product (pesticide) poses an unacceptable risk to small mammals.
APODEMUS acts as a virtual testing ground
By creating a population model, scientists can simulate complex, real-world agricultural landscapes and farming scenarios to predict how pesticide exposure impacts animal survival and reproduction over the long term.
How does it work?
Overview diagram of the conceptual population model for APODEMUS. The model simulates the wood mouse life cycle, growth and reproduction. Landscape composition is captured by habitat types (numbers) and influences the space use of the simulated wood mice. Exposures can be linked to the use of defined habitat patches and types. Credit to Singer et al., 2026.
Published as a Formal Model (a new peer-reviewed publishing format designed to make modelling research FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) by enabling scholarly credit for diverse research outputs and enhance the transparency and rigor of complex ecological and systems modelling). The current study focuses on the “conceptual model“, meaning the researchers have defined the biological and ecological rules the computer program will follow, essentially building a highly realistic “virtual wood mouse” before adding the complexities of exposure and effects of Plant Protection Products (PPPs) such as pesticides.
What differentiates APODEMUS from previous models is the explicit implementation of “Dynamic Energy Budget” that tracks how individual mice convert consumed food into energy for growth, body maintenance, and reproduction. These virtual mice are placed into realistic, grid-based landscapes (like woods, pastures, and crop fields) where they dynamically establish home ranges based on habitat attractiveness, with female territoriality naturally preventing overpopulation. Finally, the model simulates diet-based exposure by correlating the time a mouse spends foraging in specific fields to its food intake, which will be used in future updates to calculate exact pesticide ingestion.
Built on Massive Data and Unprecedented Collaboration
Number of publications providing at least one data item to inform a population model characteristic for the wood mouse. Credit to Singer et al., 2026.
To ensure the simulation is scientifically rigorous and acceptable to government regulators, a massive foundation of real-world data was used. The authors conducted a systematic review of 341 scientific publications, extracting 1,295 specific data points about wood mouse biology.
A key highlight of this study is that the model was built through a collaboration with stakeholders – including ecological experts, risk assessors, and chemical regulators – in a dedicated workshop. By following a European standard for ecological modeling such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and “Pop-GUIDE,” they ensured that every decision in the model’s design is highly transparent and justified.
What happens next?
The researchers are currently translating this conceptual blueprint into functioning computer code. Once the virtual wood mouse population is up and running, scientists will introduce virtual pesticide applications into the model. This will allow them to evaluate how individual mice absorb toxins, whether they survive, and whether the overall population can recover under various real-world farming scenarios.
Ultimately, APODEMUS offers an innovative foundational blueprint and a practical tool aimed at helping regulators accurately test the environmental safety of agricultural pesticides by simulating their long-term effects on wild animal populations across a variety of realistic landscapes that would be otherwise impossible to assess through physical field studies
Original study:
Singer A, Schmolke A, Becher MA, von Blanckenhagen F, van den Brink N, Grimm T, Ibrahim L, Imholt C, Jacob J, Jakoby O, Laucht S, Løvik AN, Martin T, Muñoz CC, Preuss TG, Galic N (2026) Concept for APODEMUS – a wood mouse population model for pesticide risk assessment. Food and Ecological Systems Modelling Journal 7: e175714. https://doi.org/10.3897/fmj.7.175714
Using noninvasive monitoring in eastern Honduras, researchers found that small mammals, not large wildlife like tapirs, drive cassava crop loss, highlighting the need for evidence-based, wildlife-friendly solutions.
Today, 29th June, marks the International Day of the Tropics, a day that reminds us of why understanding tropical ecosystems matters for both wildlife and the communities that depend on them. This new study from the Honduran Mosquitia is a perfect example.
A new study from the Honduran Mosquitia shows how simple, non-invasive technology can help solve one of the most common challenges in wildlife conservation: identifying the species actually responsible for crop damage. The full detailed results have been published in the open-access peer-reviewed journal Neotropical Biology and Conservation.
Across tropical landscapes, people living near forests often share the same concern: wildlife entering agricultural fields and feeding on crops. In many cases, these interactions can generate tension between local communities and conservation efforts, particularly when threatened species are perceived as the main culprits.
Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii) recorded from one of the trap cameras. Credit to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
In the Indigenous Miskitu community of Mavita, in eastern Honduras, local people have long reported losses in their cassava (Manihot esculenta) fields, locally known as yucales. Most residents believed that the damage was caused by Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii), an endangered species and the largest terrestrial mammal in Central America. They also suspected that pacas (Cuniculus paca) and armadillos (Dasypus mexicanus) were contributing to crop losses.
But was the tapir really responsible?
To answer this question, researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) installed camera traps equipped with solar-powered motion-activated LED lights around a 10-hectare cassava field located within a mosaic of Caribbean pine forest and tropical rainforest in the Honduran Mosquitia.
Location of the motion-sensor light installed in the cassava field of Mavita, within the Mosquitia region of eastern Honduras, highlighting nearby communities (Mavita and Rus Rus) and the surrounding forest matrix based on the 2018 ICF land-cover classification. Credit to Turcios-Casco et al., 2026
The goal was to document which mammals were actually visiting the crops and evaluate whether these light systems could eventually help reduce crop losses.
Following the evidence
Over two months of monitoring, the cameras recorded seven mammal species, including tapirs, ocelots, jaguarundis, agoutis, opossums and rabbits.
Contrary to local perceptions, the species most frequently detected interacting with cassava crops was not the tapir, but the Honduran cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus hondurensis) – a species that locals did not even know occurred in their plantations. The cameras also found no evidence that armadillos or pacas were feeding on the cassava.
Meanwhile, tapirs were present in the area, but appeared far less frequently than expected.
Many conservation conflicts begin with assumptions. Without evidence, it is easy to blame large and conspicuous animals. Camera traps allowed us to identify which species were truly interacting with the crops and helped us separate perception from reality.
On the #InternationalDayOfTheTropics , here’s a story that shows why understanding tropical ecosystems matters. 👇 📸What if the culprit wasn’t who we thought? Using noninvasive monitoring in eastern Honduras, researchers found that small mammals, not large wildlife like tapirs, drive cassava crop loss, highlighting the need for evidence-based, wildlife-friendly solutions. 📗Read the full study in Neotropical Biology and Conservation open-access journal: https://doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.21.e187958 👉Or check out our blog for more insights from the lead author and researcher, Manfredo Turcios-Casco: https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/25/camera-traps-reveal-the-true-culprit-behind-crop-damage-in-honduras/ @Wildlife Conservation Society #tapir#fyp
Correctly identifying the species involved in crop damage is more important than it might seem.
Across Latin America, wildlife is often persecuted after being blamed for agricultural losses. In Honduras, Baird’s tapir has historically faced retaliatory hunting in areas where farmers perceive it as a threat to their crops.
When damage is incorrectly attributed to threatened species, conservation efforts can be undermined while the actual source of the problem goes unaddressed.
The study highlights how non-invasive monitoring can provide communities and conservation practitioners with reliable information before management decisions are made.
Technology for coexistence
The project also tested the use of solar-powered motion-sensor lights, sometimes referred to as “silent technology,” as a tool to monitor and potentially deter wildlife activity.
Researchers found that different species reacted differently to the lights. Tapirs tended to show stronger behavioral responses, while rabbits often continued moving through the area despite illumination. These findings suggest that no single deterrent works for every species and that mitigation strategies should be tailored to local ecological conditions.
Solar-powered LED motion-sensor light interacting with female Tapirusbairdii (A), male Tapirusbairdii (B), and Sylvilagushondurensis (C). Credit to Turcios-Casco et al., 2026
More importantly, the technology proved valuable as a diagnostic tool, helping researchers understand not only which species were present, but also when they were active and how they responded to human-made stimuli.
Conservation begins with understanding
Solar-powered LED motion-sensor light interacting with Leoparduswiedii (above) and Didelphismarsupialis (below). Credit to Turcios-Casco et al., 2026
The forests of the Honduran Mosquitia harbor some of the most important wildlife populations remaining in Central America. Yet the long-term conservation of these species depends not only on protecting habitat, but also on fostering coexistence with local communities.
What surprised me most was discovering that the species most frequently blamed by local people was not the one causing most of the crop interactions.
expressed Manfredo Turcios-Casco
This study demonstrates that effective conservation starts with understanding what is actually happening on the ground. Sometimes the evidence confirms what people already suspect. And sometimes it reveals that the animal everyone blamed was innocent all along.
Acknowledgments This article was produced by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), with technical support of the community of Mavita and the financial support from the Fondo para el Manejo de Áreas Protegidas y Vida Silvestre (FAVPS) and the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund (BLF), funded by UK International Development. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the UK Government.
Original source
Turcios-Casco MA, Jolon-Morales MR, Padilla B, Scott E, López CM (2026) From forest mosaics to yucales: noninvasive monitoring untangles mammal–crop interactions in eastern Honduras. Neotropical Biology and Conservation 21(2): 173-188. https://doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.21.e187958
A landmark alliance of DNA experts across Europe signals the start of an unprecedented effort to build a continent-wide system that applies genomics for protecting European biodiversity.
That Europe’s biodiversity faces unprecedented challenges is nothing new: species are vanishing, ecosystems are degrading, and the policy-makers crafting the policies to address these challenges depend on data that is, at times, scarce.
What is probably less known is that biodiversity genomics – the one that focuses not on humans, but on other living organisms, like animals and plants – is living a revolution that may well provide just the right knowledge that policy-makers need. Never before has DNA-based science been able to identify species, monitor ecosystems, and understand genetic diversity as cheaply, efficiently, and at scale as it can now.
A landmark commitment
A scientist holding a Covaris g-TUBE. Photo credit to David Lavene /Wellcome Sanger Institute
The European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA), the International Barcode of Life Europe (iBOL Europe), and the Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities (CETAF) have signed a historic agreement for biodiversity genomics in Europe. These three large scientific communities have committed to building a coordinated European infrastructure for biodiversity genomics: one that will allow experts to work in a connected system of shared resources, technology, and data.
The vision has taken shape through the Biodiversity Genomics Europe plus (BGE+) project, and aligns with the environmental goals of the European Commission, which has welcomed steps in this direction. In fact, Costas Kadis, EU Commissioner for fisheries and oceans, recently weighed in on the need for common protocols and comparable data, and pointed to the possibility of achieving this goal through an improved and dedicated biodiversity genomics infrastructure for Europe.
We are entering a new phase. Europe already has extraordinary expertise in taxonomy, genomics, bioinformatics, biodiversity collections, and environmental monitoring. The challenge now is bringing these strengths together in a way that allows us to work at scale in an interconnected system, beyond geographic and political limitations.
says Dimitris Koureas, director of BGE+
A researcher in a white lab coat using a micropipette to transfer a sample into a DNA analysis machine. Photo credit to at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
The initiative emphasises one of the biggest challenges for efficient biodiversity research today: scale. Although more than two million species have been formally described worldwide, scientists estimate that millions more remain unknown, and we all know what this means: we cannot protect what we do not know. But understanding and monitoring biodiversity at the speed required by today’s environmental challenges demands new approaches that boost scientific collaboration and interoperability. Initiatives like BGE+ show the way ahead.
In the words of Gabriela Dankova, BGE+ project manager:
Tackling current biodiversity challenges requires effective collaboration of our communities across Europe, open knowledge exchange, solid technical infrastructure, harmonised processes, and, above all, a shared vision. BGE+ brings these elements together, enabling and amplifying the work of biodiversity genomics communities in Europe and beyond.
Scientist conducting genomic research. Photo credit to Naturalis Biodiversity Center.
Scientists know that discovering and documenting all species is only part of the work. They also need to understand how species adapt to environmental change. That is the reason why BGE+ brings together two different strands of genomics. DNA barcoding allows scientists to identify species quickly and accurately. Genome sequencing provides deeper insights into adaptation, evolution, and resilience. Combined with taxonomic expertise and advanced data systems, these tools are creating entirely new possibilities for understanding and protecting nature.
BGE+’s long-term ambition is to establish the services, standards, capacity, and infrastructure needed for biodiversity genomics to become a routine part of how Europe studies, monitors, manages, and restores nature. The stakes could not be higher.
Pensoft’s role in Biodiversity Genomics Europe plus (BGE+)
Within BGE+, Pensoft plays a leading role in knowledge sharing, skills development, and open publishing in biodiversity genomics. Working with research communities across Europe, the company will identify training needs, develop practical learning resources, and support capacity building for BGE+ cascade projects. At the same time, Pensoft will develop publishing workflows that make biodiversity genomics research easier to publish, discover, and reuse, integrating scientific articles with datasets and metadata via the ARPHA Writing Tool to support FAIR principles and ensure research outputs are more transparent, searchable, and interoperable.
Beyond training and publishing, Pensoft will help translate genomic research into policy-relevant evidence by supporting harmonised standards, open data practices, and clearer communication between researchers and decision-makers. The company will also support iBOL Europe’s community engagement and capacity building through training activities, strengthening collaboration between national and European networks, developing distributed DNA barcoding facilities, and promoting the growth of a comprehensive European DNA barcode reference library.
The investigation, which was carried out through household surveys, focus group discussions, and field observations, revealed that local wildlife populations are under critical strain.
A new study published in the open-access journal BioRisk has highlighted a powerful wave of local support for wildlife conservation in the Hamer District of South Omo, Ethiopia, despite severe environmental pressures.
The investigation, which was carried out through household surveys, focus group discussions, and field observations, revealed that local wildlife populations are under critical strain. An overwhelming majority of the surveyed residents, precisely 82.3 per cent, reported a noticeable decline in wild animal numbers within their vicinity.
Map of Ethiopia showing the current study area (the Hamer District). Image credit: Zelalem Temesgen et al.
Participants identified deforestation and overgrazing as the most significant hazards to local biodiversity, with 63.5 per cent selecting forest clearing as the primary threat and 50.0 per cent identifying livestock overgrazing as the secondary threat. These human-induced activities are exacerbated by recurrent droughts and changing climate patterns, forcing pastoralist communities to venture deeper into natural habitats to seek fodder and water for their livestock.
Human induced fire in the Hamer District observed during the field visit. Image credit: Zelalem Temesgen et al.
Despite facing these daily challenges for survival, the local community demonstrated a remarkable commitment to environmental stewardship. The researchers found that 90.6 per cent of the respondents expressed an explicit willingness to participate actively in future wildlife conservation initiatives.
Focus group discussions held in Hamer District during the study. Image credit: Zelalem Temesgen et al.
Further, 96.9 per cent of those interviewed acknowledged that the responsibility to safeguard local species rests directly with the community itself, while 99 per cent stated that intervention programmes are an urgent necessity. Statistical modelling demonstrated that factors such as the specific locality, gender, marital status, and length of residence significantly influence an individual’s openness to conservation efforts.
Wildlife population status in the Hamer District as reported by survey respondents (%). Image credit: Zelalem Temesgen et al.
The study notes that local inhabitants traditionally interact with wildlife for various purposes, including utilising certain species for food, traditional remedies, or cultural decorations. However, these practices, combined with habitat loss, have pushed several animals to the brink, leaving the local presence of iconic species such as giraffes and ostriches highly uncertain.
To foster sustainable coexistence between humans and wild animals, the authors recommend implementing managed livestock husbandry practices and constructing dedicated water ponds to alleviate resource competition during dry spells.
They also advocate for the promotion of ecotourism, community-led management initiatives, and stricter enforcement of wildlife protection laws to curb illegal hunting and habitat destruction in the region.
Original source:
Temesgen Z, Biru Y, Gibru A (2026) Anthropogenic threats and challenges of wildlife conservation in Hamer District, South Omo, Ethiopia. BioRisk 24: 69-84. https://doi.org/10.3897/biorisk.24.175449
For more articles on biodiversity and ecosystem risk assessment, follow BioRisk on Facebook and Bluesky.
Two ARPHA-powered have each received their first ever Scopus CiteScore, a milestone that reflects not only their growing scholarly impact, but also the role that robust, modern publishing infrastructure can play in helping journals gain visibility and recognition in the global academic community.
The Scopus CiteScore, traditionally announced in June, reflects citation rates over the past four full calendar years; the 2025 score draws on data from 2022 to 2025. Scopus also maintains the CiteScoreTracker, offering a monthly update incorporating citation data from the ongoing year.
Caucasiana has received an inaugural Scopus CiteScore of 1.7, marking a welcome milestone for this recently established journal.
Launched in 2022 through a collaboration between Ilia State University (Georgia) and Pensoft Publishers, Caucasiana is an international peer-reviewed, open-access, and free-of-charge online journal covering all research branches related to biodiversity in the Caucasus region and adjacent areas. The journal was established to widen and enhance biodiversity research and publishing in this poorly studied but richly biodiverse hotspot.
From its inception, the journal was built on the ARPHA Platform, giving it immediate access to a streamlined editorial workflow, wide indexation, and the infrastructure needed to grow its academic presence rapidly.
Reflecting on the milestone, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the journal, Dr. Levan Mumladze shares:
This is a remarkable achievement, and I was genuinely surprised that we managed to accomplish it in such a short time. Receiving our first Scopus metric has certainly boosted my motivation and confidence as Editor-in-Chief. This kind of recognition affirms that what we are doing is being done right – and that is a powerful motivator to press forward with even greater energy. I am confident that the progress we have made will translate into even stronger results.
Contributions to Entomology has received its first Scopus CiteScore of 1.1, ranking in Q2 for History and Philosophy of Science, placing it in the upper 60th percentile for that category.
With roots going back to 1951, when it was founded as Beiträge zur Entomologie by the Deutsches Entomologisches Institut, Contributions to Entomology has a long and distinguished history in entomological publishing.
Publishing on ARPHA has brought this wealth of entomological knowledge into a modern, fully integrated publishing environment, maximising its discoverability and reach across more than 40 indexing services.
Both journals are published on theARPHA 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.
ARPHA’s publishing services also include human-provided support and integrations with third-party providers, designed to maximise the reach and usability of scholarly knowledge. Both journals are archived in CLOCKSS, Zenodo, Portico, and Zendy, and indexed in more than 40 services, including Scopus, CrossRef, DOAJ, and ResearchGate.
The latest Scopus CiteScore and CiteScoreTracker are automatically displayed on each journal’s homepage and in its newsletter.
An enigmatic new species of wormlion fly, whose larvae construct clever pitfall traps to capture prey, has been revealed in a study led by researchers at Dali University in China.
The fly, described in a recent paper in the open-access journal ZooKeys, was identified after a 2025 expedition successfully collected adult specimens in Yadong County, southern Xizang. Unidentified larvae belonging to the same group had first been collected in the region forty-eight years earlier in 1978, but because the adult stage remained unknown, scientists had been unable to confirm its true identity until now.
Analysing the physical traits of the newly discovered insect, the research team noted that it is particularly large for its group, with adult bodies measuring up to 19.5 millimetres in length and wings reaching nearly 16 millimetres long. The fully grown larvae are even larger, reaching lengths between 20 and 28 millimetres, and they possess a single semicircular proleg bearing a distinct row of five to seven spines.
It has been named Vermitigris tsangyanggyatso, with the species name dedicated to Tsangyang Gyatso, the sixth Dalai Lama, who was a celebrated seventeenth-century Tibetan poet-monk from Xizang known for his romantic verse and unconventional life.
Habitats and habitus of Vermitigristsangyanggyatso sp. nov. Image credit: Li-Xia Shan and Ji-Shen Wang.
The discovery increases the number of species recorded in China within the genus Vermitigris from one to two, expands the total number of species in the genus from four to five, and brings the total number of known living wormlion fly species in the world to sixty-seven.
The insect belongs to the brachyceran family Vermileonidae, a unique group of flies commonly known as wormlions. These flies are notable because their larvae employ a pitfall-feeding strategy that is evolutionarily convergent with pitfall-building antlions, making them the only known family of flies whose larvae capture prey by constructing funnel-shaped pits in loose sand or soil.
The team’s motivation to study this unique family stems from an unexpected discovery a decade ago:
“Well, it was probably an accidental discovery that first motivated us. In 2015, while searching for pit-building antlions on Cangshan Mountain in Dali, China, we discovered an unfamiliar larva that we found particularly interesting. However, because the adults have an extremely short lifespan, we failed for many years to determine its identity.
It was not until 2024 that we finally obtained adults through artificial rearing in the laboratory. It turned out to be a new species, which we named Vermiophis cangshanensis. This first discovery therefore took nine years. Since then, we have paid close attention to wormlions wherever we encounter them.”
Unlike some related lineages that diversified during the Late Mesozoic by developing elongated mouthparts to feed on nectar, this new species features a significantly shortened rostrum, suggesting that the adults do not feed at all during their final stage of life. Although adult flies were primarily found resting quietly on leaf surfaces near their larval breeding grounds on sunny days, one specimen was discovered further away around agricultural fields, indicating that the species possesses strong flight and dispersal capabilities.
The environment where the immature stages thrive consists of rain-protected microhabitats, which provide the stable microenvironments necessary for the wormlions to build their pitfall traps. The research team found the larvae living in three distinct types of sheltered habitats, including fine-grained soil under giant rocks, wood debris beneath a pavilion, and fine-grained river sands accumulated beside a river, with field observations indicating a strong preference for the river sands.
When asked about the specific physical features enabling the larvae to build effective traps across such diverse textures, the team noted:
“We honestly do not know yet. Perhaps future behavioural experiments will help answer this question.”
While wet forested regions have traditionally been shown to act as barriers to the dispersal of wormlion flies, this discovery highlights how the genus Vermitigris manages to thrive in such environments by exploiting these rain-protected microhabitats. The presence of this species on the southern slopes of the Himalayas suggests that the region serves as both a transitional zone and a biodiversity corridor, facilitating the penetration of Oriental elements into Eurasia.
Distribution of Vermitigris spp. Question mark (?) indicates an unconfirmed record from India (Oldroyd 1947).
The team elaborated on what this Himalayan discovery implies for the group’s evolutionary history:
“The previously known species were first discovered in tropical Southeast Asia, and these insects were therefore thought to be restricted to tropical regions. The discovery of this species suggests that they may also be capable of adapting to subtropical climates.
We hope that more unknown species will eventually be discovered in mainland Southeast Asia, such as Thailand, as well as in southwestern China, including Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan Provinces.”
Vermitigris tsangyanggyatso is physically distinct from its closest relatives due to its uniform yellowish-brown to reddish-brown abdomen, which lacks the light and dark rings or longitudinal stripes seen on other species within the genus. Scientists believe that many neighbouring regions along the southern slopes of the Himalayas remain unsampled, meaning that further fieldwork could well yield additional members of this poorly documented group of flies.
Morphological characters of Vermitigristsangyanggyatso sp. nov.
Reflecting on the deeper personal connection to this work from a science communication standpoint, co-author Ji-Shen Wang shared:
“I would say that although my primary research interest is the insect order Mecoptera (scorpionflies), I have gradually expanded my interests into Diptera (flies) as well.
As a naturalist, I find the diversity of life on Earth endlessly fascinating, and this curiosity about nature continually motivates me to explore and wonder. I would like to quote Herman Melville from Moby-Dick: ‘As for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts.’”
Original study:
Shan L-X, Wang J-S (2026) After forty-eight years: An enigmatic new wormlion fly from Xizang, China (Diptera, Vermileonidae). ZooKeys 1276: 249-262. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1276.184675
For more articles on zoology, visit the ZooKeys website and follow the journal on BlueSky and Facebook.
Researchers documenting the Polyspilota genus in South Africa have recorded these predators hunting and consuming snails and slugs in the wild for the first time.
While most of us imagine praying mantises as hunters of flying insects, a new study published in the open-access Journal of Orthoptera Research reveals a much slimier side to their diet.
Researchers documenting the Polyspilota genus in South Africa have recorded these predators hunting and consuming snails and slugs in the wild for the first time. This discovery shifts our understanding of mantis ecology from strict insectivores to opportunistic generalists capable of tackling unconventional prey.
Polyspilotaaeruginosa female nymph feeding on common garden snail, Cornuaspersum in captivity. Photographed by Paul Janse van Rensburg.
Lead researcher Bianca Greyvenstein of North-West University in South Africa explains that this find was a major milestone for her team after a decade of studying these insects:
“We have been doing research on South African Mantodea species for about 10 years, and this was the first instance we noted of a mantis eating snails”.
She notes that the team was very suprised that this behaviour also occurs in the wild and not just in captivity. While they attempted to see if other South African species would follow suit, none of the others showed any interest in snails as a food source.
Polyspilotaaeruginosa nymph feeding on silky tailwagger snail (Kerkophorusinunctus) in the wild (iGwalagwala Trail, St Lucia, KwaZulu-Natal). Photographed by Terence Bellingan.
The appearance of snail-eating behavior might seem like a new evolutionary trend, but the researchers suspect it is simply something we have missed until now. As Greyvenstein points out:
“Very little information is available on mantis species in general, and especially on those in South Africa”.
She believes the documentation of gastropod predation is more likely a reflection of gaps in research and knowledge rather than a sudden change in behaviour. As scientists dig deeper into these genera, they expect to find even more novel behaviours.
Mantodea Mantid Polyspilota, Newlands forest Mantids, Feb 2024. Photographed by Paul Janse van Rensburg.
The study also highlights that Polyspilota aeruginosa (common name: the Flag Mantis) is a remarkably flexible hunter. Beyond mollusks, these mantids have been observed eating geckos, proving they are not picky when a high-protein meal presents itself. Greyvenstein notes:
“Praying mantises in general may have a far more varied diet and behavioural repertoire than many people realise”.
Female Polyspilotaaeruginosa eating a tropical house gecko (Leisure Bay, KwaZulu-Natal). Photographed by Gwenikè Lawrance.
She also emphasises that while people often view them solely as insect predators, observations such as gastropod predation show that there is still much to learn about even familiar animals.
A critical component of this research was the data provided by everyday people using platforms like iNaturalist. These citizen science contributions helped the team map the distribution of mantids and identify their varied prey.
“Exciting discoveries are not limited to remote rainforests or deep oceans. There are fascinating behaviours waiting to be documented in local gardens and natural areas. We have really only begun to scratch the surface of these fascinating creatures”.
Bianca Greyvenstein
Mantodea Mantid Polyspilota, Tugela, June 2024. Photographed by Paul Janse van Rensburg.
Original source:
Greyvenstein B, Janse van Rensburg P, Bellingan T, van den Berg J, Jordaens K, Stals R, Midgley J (2026) Snacking on snails: Novel prey and the distributions of Polyspilota praying mantids (Mantodea, Mantidae) in South Africa. Journal of Orthoptera Research 35(2): 251-258. https://doi.org/10.3897/jor.35.187916
A multi-institutional team of researchers have successfully conducted the first comprehensive exploration of the intertidal and subtidal rocky ecosystems of Inútil Bay.
At the icy, wind-swept tip of South America lies Inútil Bay, a remote marine environment in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago that has long guarded its underwater secrets due to severe logistical and meteorological challenges. A multi-institutional team of researchers have successfully conducted the first comprehensive exploration of the intertidal and subtidal rocky ecosystems of Inútil Bay.
Marine expedition at Intuil Bay. Credit: Mariano Rodríguez.
The findings from this survey, recently published in the Biodiversity Data Journal, provide a missing piece in the biogeographical puzzle of sub-Antarctic coastal environments. Benthic marine macroalgae act as important ecosystem engineers, modifying the physical structure of coastal habitats to create complex environments that support rich marine food webs and exceptionally high levels of biodiversity.
Beyond their role as local habitat providers, these extensive algal communities contribute significantly to global climate mitigation, while also serving as sensitive indicators of environmental health and human-induced disturbances.
Operating across six distinct sampling locations along both the northern and southern coasts of the Inutil bay, the research team deployed scientific diving techniques, including the use of 25-metre line transects and photo-quadrats to document all macroalgae species distributions.
Marine expedition at Intuil Bay. Credit: Mariano Rodríguez.
This field methodology culminated in the documentation of 72 distinct macroalgal taxa, providing a major expansion of the known phytogeographic characterisation of the Magellanic region (Chile). The survey recorded 32 taxa in the variable intertidal zone and 58 taxa in the subtidal depths, comprising a diverse assortment of green, brown, and red algae.
While canopy-forming kelp species such as Macrocystis pyrifera and Lessonia flavicans dominated the underwater landscape alongside widespread species like Ptilonia magellanica, the researchers also catalogued rare and highly unusual specimens, for example, Microzonia velutina, a little brown macroalga.
Microzonia velutina – a brown algal species. Credit: Mariano Rodríguez.
All collected specimens are preserved at the Rewilding Chile Herbarium in Puerto Varas, ensuring that this dataset remains available to support future monitoring of these ecosystems, the detection of invasive species, and conservation planning in southern Patagonia.
At the same time, we are making progress on a collaborative alliance with the National Museum of Natural History of Chile, where we have already deposited an icefish larva (Champsocephalus esox) collected on a previous expedition and the Microzonia velutina.
The Research Team
Cover image:
Marine expedition to Bahía Inútil (Intuil Bay). Credit: James Alfaro.
Original source:
Kaminsky J, Palacios M, Rodríguez M, Hüne M (2026) Sub-Antarctic subtidal and intertidal macroalgae in rocky ecosystems of Inútil Bay, Tierra del Fuego in Southern Patagonia. Biodiversity Data Journal 14: e183377. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.14.e183377
Tropical rainforest patches perched on isolated granite mountains in northern Mozambique have yielded four new species of Sylvan Chameleons, according to a new study by Prof. Krystal A. Tolley and Dr. Werner Conradie, recently published in Vertebrate Zoology.
The new species have been named after the animal behavior scientist and conservationist Jane Goodall, the chemist Rosalind Franklin, and the concept of “vanishing”, honouring scientific pioneers while sounding an alarm about disappearing habitats. The research reveals that each “sky island” harbours its own, previously unknown chameleon species, and highlights the urgent need to conserve these fragile forest habitats.
These mountains rise sharply from the surrounding savanna, trapping clouds and rain and creating cool, moist refuges in an otherwise dry landscape This results in each forest being isolated, making them true ‘sky islands’, and because of this isolation, many of their species occur nowhere else on Earth.
says Prof. Tolley.
Why search these mountains?
Localities for the sky islands where Nadzikambia chameleons were sampled, superimposed over digital elevation layer, with the six species of Nadzikambia, including the newly described species. Credit to Tolley and Conradie, 2026.
Until the 2000s, most of northern Mozambique’s sky islands had been poorly surveyed, even compared with other remote parts of Africa. The team set out to investigate whether the isolated forests on each mountain hold unique reptile and amphibian species that evolved there in isolation. With tropical forests across Africa being rapidly cleared in favour of agriculture, the researchers were heavily motivated by a race against time – species could go extinct before they are even discovered.
How were the new species identified?
The team had to first carry out several different surveys of the remote mountains to assess and catalogue the different reptile and amphibian species present. Noting that there were populations of chameleons on each mountain, measurements and samples were taken. Back at the lab, the team used an approach called the General Lineage Species Concept.
This combines different lines of evidence to identify species. In this case, they sequenced four genes (DNA sequences) from Sylvan Chameleon populations from different mountains and compared the genetic data among these. This was then combined with another type of evidence, body features, to come up with a ‘balance of evidence’ as to whether each mountain has its own species.
Network of nuclear (RAG-1) alleles for Nadzikambia based on phased sequences. Alleles are colour coded according to the proportion of individuals per species having that allele. The sizes of the circles represent the frequency of that allele in the dataset (scaling of circles to left). All branches represent one mutation. Credit to Tolley and Conradie, 2026
Although the chameleons look very similar between different mountains, the DNA told a different story. A phylogeny – a type of family tree built from the genetic data – showed that individuals clustered strictly by mountain. This indicates that each sky island population has been separated for millions of years and does not interbreed with populations on neighbouring peaks.
The similar body shape across species reflects their shared adaptation to life in forest habitats, rather than them being the same species. According to Dr. Conradie “In the same way, African and Asian elephants both look like ‘elephants’ but are distinct species that have evolved similar body forms for similar lifestyles.”
Honouring scientists and a warning about loss
Nadzikambia goodallae male species from Mount Ribáuè. Photo credit to Prof. Krystal Tolley,
Behind each of the three names lies a deliberate choice. Nadzikambia goodallae, from Mount Ribáuè, honours Dr. Jane Goodall’s pioneering work on African chimpanzees that has transformed our understanding of animal behaviour and inspired global conservation efforts. This chameleon is endemic to the region.
Before Dr. Jane Goodall became a conservation icon, she spent decades in the forest observing how every species has a role to play in maintaining our fragile ecosystems. Naming this wonderfully unique Sylvan Chameleon for Jane is a fitting tribute to her advocacy and a reminder of the importance of protecting forest landscapes for all animals, including people.
The newly described Nadzikambia franklinae from Mount Namuli. Photo credit to Werner Conradie.
Nadzikambia franklinae, from Mount Namuli, recognises Rosalind Franklin, whose foundational work on DNA structure underpins the very genetic tools used to identify these species.
Nadzikambia evanescens from Mount Inago. Photo credit to Prof. Krystall Tolley.
The third species from Mount Inago is named Nadzikambia evanescens, meaning “vanishing”, to draw attention to its disappearing habitat and the many species worldwide that may be lost before they can be described.
The Chiperone sylvan chameleon (Nadzikambia nubila) from Mount Chiperone. Photo credit to Prof. Krystall Tolley.
The fourth species, The Chiperone sylvan chameleon (Nadzikambia nubila), was collected by a stream on Mount Chiperone and takes its name from the “Ciperoni” – the local term for the heavy, cloud-laden weather that brings orographic rainfall to the area. This persistent cloud cover sustains the mountain’s mid-elevation wet forest, and the epithet nubila derives from the Latin nubilus, meaning “cloudy”.
Community-led conservation is key
Intact forest habitat (top), and areas of forest destroyed by slash and burn (middle, bottom) on Mount Inago. Credit to Tolley and Conradie
The discoveries come at a time when tropical forests, especially in Africa, are being cleared at alarming rates. The small, isolated forests on Mozambique’s sky islands are particularly vulnerable. The study highlights that local community involvement can make a decisive difference.
On Mount Chiperone, the forest is considered sacred, and cultural values have helped protect both the habitat and its wildlife. Mount Mabu has benefited from more than a decade of community-based conservation.
Together, these two mountains hold the most intact forests surveyed in the study, showing that forest clearance is not an inevitable trade-off for local livelihoods when communities are empowered and supported, and their beliefs are in sync with conservation.
Original source:
Tolley K, Conradie W (2026) Sky Islands of Mozambique harbour cryptic species of chameleons: Description of four new species of sylvan chameleons (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae: Nadzikambia Tilbury, Tolley & Branch, 2006). Vertebrate Zoology 76: 207-246. https://doi.org/10.3897/vz.76.e178403
