Citizen scientists create buzz with new insect discovery

More than 60% of Australia’s known insects are unnamed and a mystery to science. Of the approximately 500,000 Australian species, approximately half are insects, but many are uncategorized.

A group of sharp-eyed schoolchildren from Queensland are changing that. With the guidance of their dedicated teachers and enthusiastic experts, they have helped lift the lid on the secrets of two more insect species.

Year 4 students from Yeronga State expected to find different bugs in their Malaise bug trap. A tiny fly, first identified in a botanic garden in Portugal and unrecorded in Australia, was not one of them.

Expert analysis revealed that some of the fly’s DNA sequences were nearly identical to a species of moth fly, Alepia viatrix. They sent specimens to Germany for testing, where scientists confirmed the identity of the Alepia viatrix fly. It was far from home.

Students sketched and labeled the insect and discussed their theories about how this fly appeared in their backyard. Popular theories included floating at a distance, being placed in a shipping container, or trying to dominate the world.

This work became part of a paper published in the journal Checklist. The authors suggest that the fly likely made its 18,000 km journey to Australia by hitchhiking on a bromeliad.

Fortunately, experts expect the fly to be harmless to Australia’s environment. His discovery highlights the importance of community involvement and citizen science.

Taking the sting out of the armyworm invasion

Recently, students from Yeronga and five other schools each collected a new species of wasp in their pest traps. The discovered wasp is a natural enemy of the fall armyworm, a devastating cereal pest that entered Australian agriculture in 2020.

Because their wasp was unnamed and undescribed, the students were able to come up with possible names for the newly recognized species. The researchers evaluate the students and describe the joint naming process in a journal article Australian Entomology.

The discoveries and information gathered by the students about wasps will be useful to the Queensland Government’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Knowing the wasp’s locations will help scientists research solutions to control armyworm populations, helping Australian farmers and ranchers.

Opening doors for science

The learning opportunities came from a partnership between teacher Clare Triggell from Yeronga State School and entomologist Dr. Andy Howe from the University of the Sunshine Coast. Thanks to their collaboration, students had a unique chance to learn about insect taxonomy, biodiversity, conservation and biosecurity.

Triggell and Howe have worked as partners for more than three years through our STEM Professionals in Schools program. The initiative brings together Australian teachers with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professionals, connecting the curriculum and real-life industry and research.

Dr. Howe helped make the learning activities even more meaningful by basing some exercises on the Insect Investigators’ citizen science projects. This school-based program brings scientists together with schools to discover, document and describe Australia’s biodiversity. Through the program, Yeronga State School students are paired with other emerging scientists in Australia. Together, they have named 17 new insect species and documented 5,000 species using DNA.

The Australian Museum celebrated the efforts of insect investigators with a Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science in 2024. Dr. Howe says the enthusiasm of all the teachers and students involved fueled Eureka’s joint achievement.

“Working with Clare is wonderful. She eagerly facilitates hands-on learning and has taught me how it works best in schools,” says Dr. Howe.

“Partnerships to increase the ability of teachers, as well as students, in a new STEM area, and I’ve seen that here. Last year, the teachers did their own bug-catching and monitoring exercise with minimal input from me. Can’t wait to find out what they discover next.”