Hover Flies Identified: Researchers Tackle 20,000 Syrphid Specimens in Illinois Collection
A trio of entomologists at the Illinois Natural History Survey tackled a backlog of hover fly specimens dating back a century, digitized them, and combined them with online databases—leading to several new species records, changes to species ranges, and even discoveries of new areas of conservation concern for hover flies in the state.
Pixelated Entomology: Analyzing Beetles’ Flower Use Through Digital Samples
With the continuing growth of community-driven, digital nature observations on platforms like iNaturalist, entomologists and other scientists are tapping into that store of knowledge to make new discoveries. A new study shows the potential for photo observations to answer species-specific behavior and ecological questions.
Shut the Front Door! Researchers Find ‘Endangered Living Fossil’ Trapdoor Spider
Meet Cryptocteniza kawtak, a newly described genus and species of trapdoor spider that likely dates to the Cretaceous. The researcher who found it first spotted it in 1997 but was finally able to enter it in the scientific record after finding another specimen two decades later.