Tag: new species

The Pensoft Biodiversity Cup 2026 comes to a close

Now that the 2026 FIFA World Cup is over, it’s time for us to blow the final whistle on Pensoft’s Biodiversity Cup.

The floodlights have dimmed, the confetti has settled, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially come to an end. A huge congratulations to Spain, who saw off Argentina 1-0 after extra time to lift their second World Cup trophy.

And with the football finished, it’s time for us to blow the final whistle on our own tournament too. Throughout the World Cup, we ran the Pensoft Biodiversity Cup alongside the real competition – a weekly knockout contest on our Instagram page, pitting some of the most remarkable species described in our journals against one another.

Every Thursday we opened the polls, and every Monday we brought you the result. Now that the dust has settled, we thought it was the perfect moment to look back at how the tournament unfolded.

Here’s how each fixture played out, with the winning species (as voted for by you!) shown in blue bold:

DateSpecies #1Species #2
11/06Nadzikambia goodallaeFerreiraella populi
18/06Hellwigia opalinaNeohelicomyces coffeae
25/06Thecacera sesamaDolichopoda balrogi
02/07Pikelinia floydmurariaTrachischium lalremsangai
09/07Theridion himalayanaPyralis papaleonei
19/07Iberoscia zaragozaiEchinodorus nenufar
General recap of Pensoft’s Biodiversity Cup.

Our first week’s competition kicked off with a cloud-forest chameleon named after Jane Goodall, which faced off against a public-named deep-sea chiton from the abyssal Pacific:

Nadzikambia goodallae vs Ferreiraella populi.

The chameleon, Nadzikambia goodallae, came out on top in this opening clash, advancing past the deep-sea chiton Ferreiraella populi.

Round two, meanwhile, pitted a turquoise-flowered jade ginger from Sulawesi against a newly identified fungus found on dead coffee branches in Yunnan:

Hellwigia opalina vs Neohelicomyces coffeae.

…and round two went to the fungi! Neohelicomyces coffeae ended up decisively defeating the jade ginger Hellwigia opalina in this Plant vs Fungi edition.

Round three brought Cave vs. Coast: a Balrog-named cave cricket unearthed on Kastellorizo faced a sesame-speckled nudibranch discovered off northeastern Taiwan:

Thecacera sesama vs Dolichopoda balrogi.

Our third round went to the underdog (or in this case, undercricket): Dolichopoda balrogi, which hopped past Thecacera sesama in a unanimous win.

Round four was our Animal Kingdom edition, with the newly described Pink Floyd spider Pikelinia floydmuraria facing off against the burrowing snake Trachischium lalremsangai for the top spot:

Pikelinia floydmuraria vs Trachischium lalremsangai.

The snake slithered through – Trachischium lalremsangai defeated Pikelinia floydmuraria, its burrowing lifestyle proving harder to top than a rock-star spider name in this round.

Our second-to-last round paired the smiley-faced Himalayan Happy-Face Spider, Theridion himalayana, against Pyralis papaleonei, a papal-named moth endemic to Crete’s White Mountains:

Theridion himalayana vs Pyralis papaleonei.

The moth flew past the competition! Pyralis papaleonei took the win over Theridion himalayana, its rare papal namesake and striking wing bands proving enough to edge out even a face full of smiles.

Our own final on 19 July ended up mirroring the World Cup final to a tee, with a species from Spain going head-to-head with one from Argentina:

Iberoscia zaragozai vs Echinodorus nenufar.

Representing Spain in the final was Iberoscia zaragozai, a newly described genus and species of cave-dwelling isopod, published only this April in our open-access journal Subterranean Biology.

Discovered in caves across Catalonia, Murcia and the Valencian Community, this blind crustacean measures barely 3-4 mm long, yet required a new genus to accommodate it, thanks to its unique features – right down to its antennal sensory structures.

Fittingly, it’s named in posthumous tribute to the Spanish arachnologist Juan Antonio Zaragoza-Miralles, in recognition of his decades of work on the cave-dwelling fauna of the Iberian Peninsula.

Standing in Argentina’s corner was Echinodorus nenufar, a new aquatic plant described in PhytoKeys back in January. Found in the temporary ponds and seasonal wetlands of the dry Chaco region of northern Argentina and western Paraguay, it earns its name – “nenúfar” being Spanish for water lily – thanks to its rounded floating leaves and creamy-white flowers, which give it an uncanny resemblance to a true Nymphaeaceae water lily.

Like the seasonal killifish it shares its ephemeral ponds with, it has evolved to complete its whole life cycle in habitats that can appear and vanish with the rains.

Two species, two countries, both barely a few months old to science. This is a proper final if ever there was one. And… just like their footballing counterparts, it was the Spanish contender that came out on top!

We had an absolute blast running the Biodiversity Cup alongside this year’s World Cup, and we hope it gave you a fun new way to discover some of the incredible species being described in our journals. Thank you to everyone who voted, shared and cheered along from the side lines.

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Two Rare Orchids, One Vanishing Forest: Ecuador’s Newest Dracula Species

The genus Dracula is one of the more theatrical corners of the orchid world, containing more than 130 species.

A new species of vampire orchid, described in the open-access journal PhytoKeys, was recently discovered in the cloud forests of southwestern Ecuador, and with it comes the long-awaited confirmation of where a second, mysterious species actually lives in the wild.

The genus Dracula is one of the more theatrical corners of the orchid world. It contains more than 130 species, most found in the northern Andes of Colombia and Ecuador, and is known for its dramatic and often dark-coloured flowers with long tails. These blooms are pollinated by small flies rather than by bees or butterflies, that mistake the flower’s lip for a mushroom!

The newly described species, Dracula aguilarii, was found in El Oro Province, in a region of premontane and cloud forest that sits between 900 and 1,200 metres above sea level. Its cream-coloured flowers are suffused with brown-red tones and covered in short, dense hairs. It closely resembles a related species, D. hirtzii, but can be told apart by its blunt-tipped leaves, a deep and broadly rounded cup formed by the fused sepals, and notably shorter tails on those sepals.

Dracula aguilarii Baquero, M.M. Jiménez & Iturralde in vivo. A. Flower in ¾ view, showing the deep center, the convex sepals toward the apex, the short pubescence, and the proportionally small lip in relation to the sepals; B. Close-up of the petals and lip, frontal view; C. Close-up of the column, petals, and lip, lateral view; D. Side view of the flower, the deep and large mentum is visible as well as the convex towards the apex and pubescent sepals. Photographs by Luis E. Baquero.

The species owes its name to Mario Aguilar, a farmer and orchid enthusiast from El Oro with a remarkable knack for spotting rare orchids in the field. It was Aguilar who first came across a small population of around fifteen plants in a patch of remnant forest near the town of Balsas, more than a decade ago. Researchers later confirmed, through further fieldwork and herbarium comparisons, that his discovery represented a species new to science, and named it in his honour.

Only three populations of Dracula aguilarii are currently known, all within a fairly small area, which has led researchers to recommend the species be classified as Endangered. The forests it depends on are being steadily cleared for cattle pasture, and like many showy orchids, it also faces pressure from illegal collection for the horticultural trade.

Colour variation in Dracula aguilarii Baquero, M.M. Jiménez & Iturralde. A. Photo by Mario Aguilar from near Piñas; B. Photo by Marco M. Jiménez from a plant in situ at the southernmost known population near Balsas; C. Photo by Luis E Baquero from Holotype, LB 3142, QCNE (near Balsas); D. Photo by Marco M. Jiménez from a cultivated plant collected near Balsas.

This same study resolves a smaller mystery that has lingered for well over a decade. Dracula soennemarkii was first described in 2012 from a plant bought at a nursery and grown in Sweden, with no idea of where it had originally come from in the wild. The researchers have now traced a wild population of this species to the same general region of El Oro, giving it a confirmed home for the first time. Given that it is known from just a single location, D. soennemarkii has been assessed as Critically Endangered, an even more precarious position than its newly described neighbour.

Known species and natural hybrids of Dracula from El Oro province, southwestern Ecuador. A. D. aguilarii Baquero, M.M. Jiménez & Iturralde; B. D. woolwardiae (F. Lehmann ex Kraenzlin) Luer; C. D. cordobae Luer; D. D. mopsus (F. Lehmann & Kraenzlin) Luer; E. D. × pinasensis Zambrano & Solano; F. D. soennemarkii Luer & Dalström. A. From holotype, LB 3142 QCNE, and B–F. From near Piñas. Photographs by Luis E. Baquero (A–E), and Mario Aguilar (F).
Dracula aguilarii Baquero, M.M. Jimenez & Iturralde. A, B. Flower and plant in situ near El Caucho; C, D. Photographs of other plants in cultivation. Photographs by José Bustamante.

Together, these findings demonstrate just how much remains to be discovered, and how quickly it could be lost, in Ecuador’s shrinking cloud forests. El Oro Province alone now hosts six recognised species of Dracula, yet only a fraction of its once-extensive humid forest cover remains intact. Each new species description is as much a conservation appeal as it is a taxonomic milestone.

Distribution of the known populations of Dracula aguilarii Baquero, M.M. Jiménez & Iturralde and morphologically similar species, and confirmed locality of D. soennemarkii Luer & Dalström, in the northern Andes. Base map layer was obtained from Google Satellite imagery (Google LLC; https://www.google.com/earth/).

Original study:

Baquero R. LE, Jiménez MM, Iturralde GA (2026) Dracula aguilarii (Orchidaceae, Pleurothallidinae), a new species from southwestern Ecuador and the first confirmed location for Dracula soennemarkii. PhytoKeys 273: 281-297. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.273.182821

Make sure to follow PhytoKeys on Facebook and Bluesky for more interesting articles on plants.

New Hyperparasitoid Wasp Named After Ernest Hemingway Amid Efforts to Control Destructive Sugar Beet Pest

An international team of researchers has discovered a new hyperparasitoid wasp species, Chlorocytus papahemii, named in honor of Ernest Hemingway, and we’re sharing it today to mark his birthday.

“The Earth is a fine place and worth fighting for.” – Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls, 1940

Earth remains full of undiscovered species and unexplored interactions that continue to fascinate us, including, in the most ordinary of places, the fields where our food is grown.

The weevil beetle Lixus subtilis is a highly destructive insect that frequently damages agricultural crops, particularly sugar beets, across Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, and China, Until now, scientific understanding of this beetle’s natural parasitic complexes, specifically the complete food chains involving parasitoids and hyperparasitoids (parasites of parasites) has been very limited.

However, developing biological methods of controlling plant pests should be based on an understanding of real, comprehensive regulatory systems within complete food chains.

the researchers emphasise in the article.

To investigate these relationships, researchers from Xinjiang University in China, the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), and the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences joined forces on a collaborative study, now published in the open-access, peer-reviewed ZooKeys journal.

The team conducted field research in the sugar beet fields of Yining City and Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County in China’s Xinjiang region, an area that has experienced repeated outbreaks of the weevil pest. By carefully collecting damaged sugar beet leaf petioles and rearing the infected larvae in laboratory climate chambers, the scientists made two significant discoveries about the local wasp populations.

Eurytoma curculionum
1–4. Method for rearing parasitoid from infected beetles. 1. Sugar beet field; 2, 3. Rearing beetles and parasitoids in a laboratory; 4. Parasitoid-infected beetle larva (arrow indicates parasitoid larva); 5. Lixus subtilis Boheman, 1836; 6–9. Eurytoma curculionum Mayr 1878 female, not type; 5, 7. Same, body, dorsal view; 6. Same, body, lateral view; 8. Same, fore wing; 9. Same, antenna. Credit to Li et al., 2026.

First, they recorded Eurytoma curculionum, a wasp that is already known to parasitise weevil larvae, in China for the very first time. Second, and more strikingly, they discovered an entirely new species of pteromalid wasp. 

The Enemy Of My Enemy Is My Friend

The research team officially named the newly discovered wasp Chlorocytus papahemii, in honor of Ernest Hemingway, one of the most prominent literary figures of the 20th century. 

the Hemingway hyperpasitoid wasp Chlorocytus papahemii 

Chlorocytus papahemii Tselikh & Li, sp. nov., female, holotype. 24. Same, Body, lateral view; 25. Same, Head, frontal view; 26. Same, Fore wing; 27. Same, Head and pronotum, dorsal view; 28. Same, Antenna; 29. Same, Metasoma, dorsal view; 30. Same, Mesosoma, dorsal view; 31. Same, Body, dorsal view. Credit to Li et al., 2026.

Beyond its striking iridescent coloring, what makes Chlorocytus papahemii especially interesting is its behaviour: rather than attacking the crop-destroying weevil directly, it is a hyperparasitoid, meaning that it is parasitising Eurytoma curculionum, the very wasp that preys on the weevil.

This highly specialised behavior places hyperparasitoids at a complex fourth trophic level within ecosystems, one that can complicate biological control efforts, since hyperparasitoids often kill the beneficial primary parasitoids.

By meticulously documenting the morphology and biology of both wasp species, the study sheds new light on the hidden ecological dynamics at work in agricultural fields, particularly within economically important sugar beet crops. This work paves the way for more advanced, biologically informed strategies to manage weevil outbreaks and protect vital crop yields.

Original source:

Li Q, Liu Z, Li X, Yin H, Delvare G, Tselikh EV (2026) The hymenopteran parasitoid complex (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae and Pteromalidae) of the weevil beetle Lixus subtilis Boheman, 1836 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) in China. ZooKeys 1279: 345-356. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1279.188643

A New Class Of Fungi Named After The King Of Sweden

A newly discovered fungal species has been named after the King of Sweden to mark the 50th anniversary of his reign.

Originally published by Uppsala University

Researchers at Uppsala University have discovered a completely new fungal species, which they chose to name after the King of Sweden. The species has been given the Latin name Semicentenialea rex, which means fifty-year anniversary of the King. It is the first known representative of a new class of fungi that will be called Semicentenialomycetes. 

The new fungus was isolated from roots in the ground in Jädraås in the province of Gästrikland, and represents a new lineage among what are primarily rust fungi. Rust fungi are a type of fungi that causes diseases in plants, usually by infecting the leaves. Based on DNA sequencing from soil samples, the researchers know that the class occurs in soil and roots from different ecosystems across almost the entire world, but rarely at high abundance.

the new fungi Semicentenialea rex
 The images show Semicentenialea rex both as a colony and under the microscope. After eight weeks of growth, the fungus forms a small colony on the culture plate. The microscopic images reveal a network of hyphae with so-called clamp connections – structures that connect adjacent cells in the hyphae of basidiomycete fungi. To follow fungal development, the researchers stained the nuclei pink and the cell walls blue. Three types of swollen cells can be observed within the hyphae: basidium-like cells, teliospore- or probasidium-like cells, and intercalary swellings. These structures are examined in greater detail in the following figures. Credit to Anna Rosling.

There are probably at least two other species in the class, but they do not appear to be as common as Semicentenialea rex. Since it only seems to live deep down in the ground, we are curious about what life strategy it has. We are going to study how it affects the roots of plants in the soil and how it propagates.

says Anna Rosling, professor at Uppsala University and one of the researchers behind the study.

Several million species of fungi

phylogenetic tree of Semicentenialea rex
The researchers analysed hundreds of genes to determine where the newly discovered fungus Semicentenialea rex belongs in the fungal tree of life. The results show that S. rex, previously known as GS25, forms a distinct lineage within the Pucciniomycotina. To confirm its placement, genes from both closely related and more distantly related fungi were compared, including species from both the Basidiomycota and the Ascomycota. Credit to Anna Rosling.

The species diversity in kingdom Fungi is largely unexplored. Based on sequencing of environmental DNA, it is estimated that there are several million species of fungi across the globe. But because most live concealed in the soil, wood or insects for example, it has only been possible to describe and name a small proportion of them. Without names, it is difficult to communicate about these species, genera, classes and even phyla of hitherto unknown fungi.

It was during a study root fungal diversity, when the researchers were culturing fungi from pine tree roots collected from mineral soil at Ivantjärnheden field station near Jädraås that the researchers identified a new fungal species that turned out to represent a new class of fungi.

Exciting with a root-associated fungus

Veera Tuovinen-Nogerius and Anna Rosling, both of Uppsala University, have led an international team of researchers in the work of characterising the morphology of the new species and its phylogenetic placement. The results have now been published in the International Mycology Association’s journal IMA Fungus.

A new class is exciting enough but in this case, it’s especially exciting because we have a root-associated fungus that evolutionarily speaking sits among the rust fungi in Puccinomycotina. Rust fungi are obligate parasites that infect plants and cause diseases above ground.

says Anna

Suitably named after the King of Sweden

This figure presents additional structures that are likely to play a role in the fungal life cycle. Among them are intercalary swellings and teliospore-like cells, which contain spore-like structures with one or more nuclei. The researchers documented several stages of development, ranging from young swellings and spore formation to germination and the emergence of new hyphae. Some structures produce thick promycelium-like hyphae, while others release small yeast-like cells through budding. These observations suggest that Semicentenialea rex has a complex life cycle involving several different cell types and spore forms. This resembles rust fungi within the Pucciniomycotina, which are known for producing multiple types of spores. Credit to Anna Rosling/Uppsala University.

Finding names for new species is a pleasant challenge for all researchers doing this type of research. This particular one was named Semicentenialea rex to pay tribute to King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden when he celebrated 50 years on the throne in 2023.

During his reign, the King has worked tirelessly for biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of our natural resources. What could be better than to have a previously undescribed fungus named after you.

says Anna Rosling, who in connection with the official celebration of the King’s golden jubilee presented a picture and a description of the species to him.

Now that the species has a new name, it will facilitate future communication and studies of the role of Semicentenialea rex in the ecosystem.

Original source:

Nogerius VT, Sánchez-García M, Kluting K, Heinonsalo J, Ryberg M, Toome M, Haridas S, Mondo S, LaButti K, Nolan M, Lipzen A, Koriabine M, Bauer D, Barry K, Grigoriev IV, Aime MC, Rosling A (2026) Another dark taxon comes to light: Semicentenialomycetes, a new class within the Pucciniomycotina (Basidiomycota), and its first described representative, Semicentenialea rex. IMA Fungus 17: e189848. https://doi.org/10.3897/imafungus.17.189848

Cave-Dwelling Snail Discovered in Greece, Named for Hermes and the Nymph Who Nurtured Him

Deep in a single Greek spring, scientists discovered a new cave-dwelling snail and named it after Hermes and the nymph who raised him.

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 Cyllena hermes 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 Cyllena hermes 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.

habitat of Cyllena hermes

Type locality of Cyllena hermes 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.

immature speciemen of the snail Cyllena hermes
Cyllena hermes 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

New Species of Giant Salamander Discovered in Anhui, China

With the discovery of a new giant salamander of the genus Andrias, the total number of globally recognised species has risen to 6.

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

Andrias yaoluopingensis
Holotype of Andrias yaoluopingensis (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.

  • Andrias yaoluopingensis
    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

New Harvester Ant Species Discovered in Bulgaria’s Eastern Rhodopes Mountains

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 ZooKeys and bring the total number of recognized Messor ant species in Bulgaria to nine.

A Nod to Ancient History

  • full body of Messor odrysarum
    Messor odrysarum sp. nov., major worker: A. dorsal view; B. lateral view. Scale bar: 2 mm. Credit to L. Borowiec.
  • head of Messor odrysarum
    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


Messor odrysarum 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 gyne head.
    Messor odrysarum sp. nov., gyne head. Scale bar: 1 mm. Credit to L. Borowiec.
  • Messor oertzeni, gyne head
    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 

New Beetle Genus Named After One Piece’s Monkey D. Luffy, Encompassing Two New Species

New beetle genus named after a character from the famous anime and manga One Piece, with two new species described within.

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 Peice and Luffy nika, the newly described beetle.
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
    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.
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.

Luffy nika. Credit to Hu & Solodovnikov, 2026
Luffy nika. 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.
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. 

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.

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Original source:

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.

New giant wormlion fly species identified on the southern slopes of the Himalayas

This enigmatic new species of wormlion fly’s larvae construct clever pitfall traps to capture prey.

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 Vermitigris tsangyanggyatso 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 Vermitigris tsangyanggyatso 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.

Beautiful Scenery, Rich Bodiversity: New Springtail Species Discovered In China

Five new species of springtails from the family Entomobryidae have been described from China.

There is a Chinese saying that east or west, Guilin scenery is the best. Guilin and Chongqing, located in the western part of China, are famous for their many mountains and rivers. They also harbor unique flora and fauna, such as the scaly-sided merganser, a globally endangered species restricted to eastern Asia.

In 2023 and 2024, Dr. Yitong Ma from Nantong University, China, collected springtail specimens from the Huaping Nature Reserve in Guilin and the Yintiaoling Nature Reserve in Chongqing.

Springtails are the most common arthropods living in the soil – you can find them in your yard, in the flowerpot, or on the lawn,

he says.

“Although they are very small, usually 2-3 mm in length, their density can be amazing. As decomposers, they can break down the organic matter and promote material cycling, so they play an important key role in soil ecosystems.”

After checking the specimens from the two reserves under microscopes, Dr. Ma and his colleague from Nantong University, Xiaowei Qian, found rich biodiversity and about 80 different species of springtails. In a study published in the open-access journal ZooKeys, they described five new scaled species belonging to three genera of the springtail family Entomobryidae.

The genus Lepidodens contains five species, all found in China. The researchers find one new species, which is also the first species of the genus from the western part of China.

Lepidodens maculata
 The new species of Lepidodens: L. maculata. Photo credit to Dr. Yitong Ma.

They also report the first sighting in China of the genus Lepidosira, which thrives best in Oceania. In Huaping Nature Reserve and Yintiaoling Nature Reserve, they found three new species of the genus.

  • Lepidosira cheni
    One of the new Lepidosira species：L. cheni
  • Lepidosira guilinensis
    One of the new Lepidosira species：L. guilinensis
  • Lepidosira montis
    One of the new Lepidosira species：L. montis

Among the fifty species of the genus Willowsia in the world, about 30 species have been reported from China. However, the authors concluded this genus is not well represented in the two reserves, and only found one new species in Chongqing. 

Willowsia zhangi
The new Willowsia species：W. zhangi. Photo credito to Dr. Yitong Ma

In the future, the researchers will further study those specimens collected from the two reserves.

Given the subtropical monsoon climate, mountainous topography and little human disturbance of the reserves, it is likely that more new species will be found,

they say.

Original source:

Qian X-W, Ma Y-T (2026) Five new species of Entomobryinae (Collembola, Entomobryidae) from China. ZooKeys 1275: 81-115. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1275.158254