Amateur naturalist Franklin Howley-Dumit Serulle's online photograph helped identify a new hoverfly species, Monoceromyia ndidiae, which was previously unknown to science. The insect, photographed in the Dominican Republic, had remained a mystery for years until 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, and the discovery has earned the Swiss Systematics Society's New Species of the Year 2026 title. The photograph, shared on iNaturalist, played a crucial role in bringing attention to the unusual insect and its eventual identification.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
A photograph shared online has helped scientists identify a hoverfly species that had remained a mystery for years.
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that → share → years
The insect, named ‘Monoceromyia ndidiae’, was photographed in the Dominican Republic and posted on iNaturalist.
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insect → name → iNaturalist
Its unusual appearance caught the attention of an entomologist, who began asking whether the fly represented something unknown.
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fly → catch → something
The mystery was finally solved when researchers found a corresponding specimen during a field expedition to Valle Nuevo National Park.
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researchers → solve → Park
Laboratory work at the University of Lausanne confirmed that it was an undescribed species.
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it → confirm → Lausanne
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.
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observations → accord → 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.
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interest → help → Republic
He shared the photograph on iNaturalist, where it caught the attention of researchers because the insect could not be identified with certainty.
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insect → share → certainty
Serulle’s observation became an important starting point in the search for its identity.
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observation → become → 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.
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photograph → work → 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.
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discovery → find → Republic
During a field expedition, they used a light trap and captured a specimen that appeared to be the insect from the online photograph.
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that → use → photograph
The specimen allowed scientists to examine its features closely and carry out further laboratory tests.
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scientists → allow → tests
Researchers at the University of Lausanne examined the specimen and confirmed that it belonged to a species previously unknown to science.
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it → examine → science
The insect was formally described as Monoceromyia ndidiae.
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insect → describe → ndidiae
Its discovery brought together the original photograph shared by an amateur naturalist and the specimen collected during fieldwork.
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discovery → bring → fieldwork
The photograph first drew attention to the unusual insect, while the specimen gave researchers the chance to study it in detail.
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specimen → draw → 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.
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ndidiae → make → protection
Many hoverflies have yellow or orange patterns that make them resemble wasps.
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them → have → wasps
The resemblance helps protect them from predators even though hoverflies are harmless and cannot sting.
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hoverflies → help → predators
This striking appearance may be one reason hoverflies often catch people’s attention.
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hoverflies → catch → attention
It also gives scientists a better understanding of the biodiversity in the Dominican Republic.
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It → give → Republic
The discovery adds another species to the region’s biodiversity records and gives researchers a clearer picture of the hoverflies found there.
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discovery → add → hoverflies
Why hoverflies matter to ecosystems and biodiversity
The larvae of many hoverfly species feed on aphids, while adult hoverflies help pollinate plants.
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hoverflies → matter → plants
Their presence can also give researchers clues about the health of an ecosystem and changes taking place in a habitat.
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presence → give → habitat
About 500 hoverfly species are known in Switzerland, showing the wide variety within this group.
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species → know → group
SCNAT notes that nearly eight million plant, fungal and animal species may still be unknown to science.
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species → note → science
Amateur naturalists often discover unusual insects and share their photographs online, giving scientists a chance to notice species that might otherwise be overlooked.
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that → discover → species
