New alpine moth species discovery helps solve 180-year-old identification mystery
Researchers name new species after first identifying insect nearly 30 years ago
Scientists who discovered a new species of alpine moth have used their findings to crack a 180-year-old mystery around the identification of another species of the insect.
Two researchers from Switzerland and Austria, Jürg Schmid and Peter Huemer, made the discovery after first identifying the same moth species almost 30 years ago in the 1990s.
The two men found that while the insect bore similarities to a species commonly named Dichrorampha montanana, which has been known to scientists since 1843, it had clear differences which suggested a new species.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies