Brachyopa silviae belongs to the genus Brachyopa, of which only 13 species are known in Europe Photo: André Kuenzelmann/UFZ

A sensation that was almost missed

For the last 12 years Dziock has been investigating the fauna of riparian woodlands. Now, for the first time, the 35-year-old biologist has succeeded in achieving what every entomologist dreams of: the discovery of a new species. Yet the specimen's capture, in the Saalberghau nature reserve by the River Elbe near Dessau, initially seemed quite unspectacular. As part of a research project Frank Dziock had set up an insect trap to examine how hover flies react to flooding. The insects are used here as bio-indicators. At first glance the contents of the trap did not look in any way out of the ordinary. "At first we thought it was a species that was already known. Then we realised that the two tiny spots on the fly's back were clear evidence of an as yet undiscovered species", explains Dziock. On closer examination under the microscope (the fly is only seven millimetres long) it became clear that its body structure was different from all other known species. "So I borrowed the type specimens, known as holotypes and syntypes, of four similar species from the natural history museums in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oxford and the German Entomological Institute, in order to examine the differences more closely."

Together with hover fly expert, Dieter Doczkal, from Malsch, Frank Dziock wrote a description of the new species. The first description of Brachyopa silviae (Silvia's Brachyopa) was then published in the journal, Volucella. Anyone who discovers a new species can suggest a name for it and Dziock dedicated his discovery to his wife, Silvia, who over the years has had to be very understanding of all the days her husband spends conducting his research in the forests of Central Germany.

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