Meet Franklin Howley-Dumit Serulle, the amateur naturalist whose online insect photo helped reveal a new hoverfly species |
A photograph shared online has helped scientists identify a hoverfly species that had remained a mystery for years. The insect, named ‘Monoceromyia ndidiae’, was photographed in the Dominican Republic and posted on iNaturalist. Its unusual appearance caught the attention of an entomologist, who began asking whether the fly represented something unknown.The mystery was finally solved when researchers found a corresponding specimen during a field expedition to Valle Nuevo National Park. Laboratory work at the University of Lausanne confirmed that it was an undescribed species. According to the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT), the discovery has earned the Swiss Systematics Society’s New Species of the Year 2026 title, highlighting how amateur observations can help reveal biodiversity.
How Franklin Howley-Dumit Serulle ’s photograph helped scientists discover a new hoverfly
Franklin Howley-Dumit Serulle is an amateur naturalist whose interest in insects led him to photograph the unusual hoverfly in the Dominican Republic. He shared the photograph on iNaturalist, where it caught the attention of researchers because the insect could not be identified with certainty. Serulle’s observation became an important starting point in the search for its identity. Although he was not working as part of the research team, his photograph preserved a record of the unusual insect and helped bring it to the attention of specialists. Researchers later found a specimen during fieldwork, allowing them to examine the insect and establish that it was a new species.
How researchers confirmed the new hoverfly species in the Dominican Republic
The discovery took researchers to Valle Nuevo National Park in the Dominican Republic. During a field expedition, they used a light trap and captured a specimen that appeared to be the insect from the online photograph. The specimen allowed scientists to examine its features closely and carry out further laboratory tests.Researchers at the University of Lausanne examined the specimen and confirmed that it belonged to a species previously unknown to science. The insect was formally described as Monoceromyia ndidiae. Its discovery brought together the original photograph shared by an amateur naturalist and the specimen collected during fieldwork. The photograph first drew attention to the unusual insect, while the specimen gave researchers the chance to study it in detail.
What makes ‘Monoceromyia ndidiae’ different from other hoverflies
Monoceromyia ndidiae belongs to the hoverfly family, a group known for an unusual form of protection. Many hoverflies have yellow or orange patterns that make them resemble wasps. The resemblance helps protect them from predators even though hoverflies are harmless and cannot sting. This striking appearance may be one reason hoverflies often catch people’s attention. It also gives scientists a better understanding of the biodiversity in the Dominican Republic. The discovery adds another species to the region’s biodiversity records and gives researchers a clearer picture of the hoverflies found there.
Why hoverflies matter to ecosystems and biodiversity
The larvae of many hoverfly species feed on aphids, while adult hoverflies help pollinate plants. Their presence can also give researchers clues about the health of an ecosystem and changes taking place in a habitat. About 500 hoverfly species are known in Switzerland, showing the wide variety within this group.SCNAT notes that nearly eight million plant, fungal and animal species may still be unknown to science. Amateur naturalists often discover unusual insects and share their photographs online, giving scientists a chance to notice species that might otherwise be overlooked.
