While collecting insects for a semester project, Joshua Oliva, a UC Riverside undergraduate student, discovered a new species of firefly in an area of Topanga Canyon in Los Angeles County. Experts at the University of Florida have confirmed that it was a new species of firefly.

Doug Yanega, head of the entomology museum on campus, said Oliva showed him the firefly. Yanega who confirmed that it was a new species affirmed that it is not unusual to identify new species of insects at UCR.

Around once a week, a new species is discovered and many of them are from the Inland Empire. Yanega shared his experience of discovering a new beetle from Lytle Creek a few weeks ago. It happens sometimes that the new insects in the museum having collection of around 4 million specimens are not identified as new species for 10 to 15 years.

But such was not the case this time, as the firefly was instantly recognizable as unique. As a part of a semester program, Oliva has to capture 300 insects and each of them has to be mounted and identified, including firefly.

It was then Oliva came to Yanega and asked him if he could check the species and ensure that he has got the right one. Yanega assessed the species and stated that it was a new species.