A new species of aquatic insect has been discovered in Albania, despite the “ongoing pollution activists and mismanagement of freshwater ecosystems” in the country.
The discovery was made by a group of professors and entomologists from the University of Prishtina, including Prof Halil Ibrahimi and Astrit Biilalli.
The Potamophylax qafshtamaensis, a member of the Trichoptera family, otherwise known as a caddisfly, was found in the Qafeshtame National Park. The news was announced by the University this week. They noted that this new species and countless others are at risk of extinction due to the deterioration of their environment because of commercial activities.
Labeled a “biodiversity hotspot”, the Albanian lands are home to several new species of caddisfly. In 2020, the same group of professors discovered another new species in Kosovo called the Potamophylax coronavirus.
There are other potential newly discovered species forthcoming as the collected material related to them is still being processed.
