Unveiling Secrets: How a Dusty Old Moth from a London Museum Sparked an Astonishing Taxonomic Discovery

Researchers at the Natural History Museum in London have uncovered a fascinating story about a small, damaged white micro-moth called Topiris candidella. This moth connects to the famous naturalist and explorer Alfred Russel Wallace.

During their study, scientists found that the analysis of this moth led to the discovery of 13 other species in the same genus. Out of these, 11 are new to science! One species is named T. thunbergella to honor climate activist Greta Thunberg.

A hidden label on the moth revealed that Wallace collected it in Borneo in late 1855. This was a significant time for Wallace, as he was about to publish his famous ‘Sarawak Law’ paper, discussing how new species evolve from existing ones.

Though Wallace described the species in 1863, it was later overlooked by entomologist Edward Meyrick in 1927, who suggested it was “better neglected.” Over time, the specimen became quite damaged, leaving only parts of its body intact.

In 2017, researchers began investigating this moth. At that time, the technology was not advanced enough to analyze its DNA properly. However, recent advancements in genome skimming techniques offered a new pathway. In November 2022, scientists extracted a tiny DNA fragment from one of the moth’s remaining legs for analysis.

The analysis revealed connections among a small group of moths in Southeast Asia and identified 11 new species. Dr. David Lees, a Senior Curator for Microlepidoptera at the museum, emphasized the importance of this discovery, noting how modern DNA analysis can illuminate the evolutionary history of species, even from damaged specimens. He said that this innovative sequencing technique not only revived Topiris candidella, but also broadened the understanding of small white moths.

This study has also paved the way for researchers to revisit other Microlepidoptera specimens collected by Wallace that have been overlooked until now. With new techniques, there’s hope for uncovering more hidden knowledge in the museum’s collections.

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