These burrowing bees really rock! New species discovered which chews through STONE to make itself a home

Scientists have discovered a new species of bee which makes its home by chewing its way through solid rock to create burrows in sandstone cliffs.

The new species, called Anthophora pueblo, was first spotted around 40 years ago in the arid deserts of the south-western US, but after finding a number of new nest sites entomologists have now identified it as a new species to science.

The hardy bees chew through rock with their mandibles to create a hidey-hole, but this has raised questions as to why they go to such lengths to set up home.read more

Bizarre new species of ant is found in poisonous 'little devil' frog's VOMIT

The new ant, which is less than a quarter of an inch long, was found in the vomit from a species known as the little devil frog, or 'rana diablito' in Spanish.

Frogs can often be a good way to discover new species of insects, the researchers say, because they forage and can reach places humans cannot.

The scientists capture wild poisonous frogs, Oophaga sylvatica, and flush out their bellies.

Then they search the vomit to see what discoveries it could be hiding-read more

New species of crane fly with forked penis found in Kosciuszko National Park

After discovering 750 different species in a career spanning 50 years, one would think environmental scientist Gunther​ Theischinger​ had seen it all.

But then came the fly with a forked penis.

It was a morning of "atrocious" weather conditions in May last year when Professor Theischinger came across the crane fly in a creek in Kosciuszko National Park "by accident".read more and see video

Drepanosaurus -Strange reptile fossil puzzles scientists

A 200-million-year-old reptile is rewriting the rulebooks on how four-legged animals conquered the world.

Newly discovered fossils suggest Drepanosaurus had huge hooked claws to dig insects from bark, much like today's anteaters in the forests of Central and South America.

Scientists say the creature defies the convention on how reptiles evolved and flourished.

Their research is published in the journal Current Biology.

The new fossils, found in a New Mexico quarry, suggest Drepanosaurus was the size of a cat and lived in the trees.

It had a bird-like head on a chameleon-like body, but the most unusual feature was its forearms, said Dr Adam Pritchard, of Yale University, who led the research.

Massive arms

"Drepanosaurus itself has extremely massive arms and forearms - very muscular," he said.read more

Swarms of "super fleas" with large penises to invade Exeter this autumn

Billions of 'super-fleas' with massive penises are expected to invade bedrooms across Exeter and beyond this autumn.

The new breed of so called super-fleas, which are far bigger than 'normal' fleas, are expected to come out of hibernation early this year.

The flea has a penis which is two-and-a-half times the length of its body - the largest genitalia relative to size of any bug on earth.

With yesterday being the first day of autumn and the night's drawing in, the fleas are about to leap indoors to relax in our warm homes.

Conditions for flea breeding have been perfect with a mild summer and the right amount of rain and damp weather.

The new flea breed is believed to have come from Europe over the past few years.

Rob Simpson, of pest control group Basis Prompt, warned that the super-fleas will come out of much earlier than expected.

"Fleas which would usually remain dormant for much longer, became active sooner, leading to more prolific breeding and therefore a larger population," he said.

Warm, damp summers and mild winters, along with improved central heating and home insulation, have made life easy for fleas, bed bugs and head lice all year round, and their numbers have risen.read more

Species found in county not endangered

The U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Service issued two press releases earlier this week after deciding that one local species is not threatened with extinction and another southern Arizona species should be considered endangered.

The Huachuca springsnail, found in Cochise County as well as Santa Cruz County and northern Sonora, Mexico, was one of nine species the service recently determined does not warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act.

The small aquatic snail — measuring just 1.7 to 3.2 millimeters — continues to occupy a large portion of its historical range and its habitat remains substantially intact. Currently, it is found in 23 of 29 spring sites studied since 2004, and 25 of those 29 sites are “high- or medium-quality habitat,” according to the species status assessment released by the service.

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Bizarre new species of extinct reptile shows dinosaurs copied body, skull shapes of distant relatives

Iconic dinosaur shapes were present for at least a hundred million years on our planet in animals before those dinosaurs themselves actually appeared.

In a study in today's (Sept. 22) issue of Current Biology, a multi-institutional team of paleontologists including Virginia Tech College of Science researcher Michelle Stocker have identified and named a new species of extinct reptile estimated to be 230 million years old -- predating dinosaurs.

Called Triopticus primus -- meaning the "First of Three Eyes" because the large natural pit in the top of its head lends the appearance of an "extra"eye -- Triopticus bears an extremely thickened skull roof, just like the very distantly related pachycephalosaur dinosaurs that lived more than 100 million years later. And even more unexpected, many of the other extinct animals found with Triopticus resemble later dinosaurs as well.

"Triopticus is an extraordinary example of evolutionary convergence between the relatives of dinosaurs and crocodylians and later dinosaurs that is much more common than anyone ever expected," Stocker said. "What we thought were unique body shapes in many dinosaurs actually evolved millions of years before in the Triassic Period, about 225 million years ago."-read more