New insect species named after coronavirus
Scientists from the University of Pristina (Kosovo) have discovered a species of insects previously unknown to science. It belongs to the order of caddis flies, according to the Biodiversity Data Journal.
Insect samples were collected from a reservoir in the Prokletije National Park several years ago. But only during the pandemic did scientists have time for a thorough study, molecular and morphological analysis.
The study authors named the new species Potamophylax coronavirus. They wanted to celebrate the difficult period that humanity had to go through, and also to draw attention to another “pandemic”: the pollution of fresh waters in the region. Poor environmental conditions have already led to the extinction of a large number of freshwater organisms.
Note that caddis flies are one of the most common orders of insects. It has about 15 thousand species. In the larval stage, caddisflies live in water.
Earlier it was reported that in honor of the coronavirus, a new species of parasitic wasp was named. She was named Stethantix covida.
