21 July 2025
Forget dusty museum drawers, some of Australia’s newest species have been uncovered by everyday Aussies simply taking a closer look at nature.
Citizen scientists across the country, armed with nothing more than their phones, have made incredible discoveries by sharing their sightings on platforms like iNaturalist. These stories show that you don’t need a science degree to make a real difference, just a keen eye and a love for nature.
A ghostly wasp
In the Northern Territory, wildlife photographers Nick Volpe and Lucnya Kania made a thrilling discovery at Leliyn (Edith Falls) in Nitmiluk National Park. They noticed a striking red and black wasp on a friend’s back door and uploaded photos to iNaturalist.
The images caught the attention of wasp expert Dr Ben Parslow, who confirmed this was a completely new species. Working with the Jawoyn Association, they named it Gasteruption mamburrumurl, combining Jawoyn words for “ghost” and “wasp.”
A tiny mantis with a big story
In Queensland, local nature lover Glenda Walter photographed an unusual praying mantis and shared it on iNaturalist. It looked different enough to catch the eye of James Cook University researcher Dr Matthew Connors.
After studying the images and specimens, scientists confirmed it was not only a new species but an entirely new genus of mantis, the first new genus described in Australia in decades. Fittingly, they named it Inimia nat as a nod to the iNaturalist community that helped bring it to light.
A bee for the books
Wild bee researcher Dr Kit Prendergast was surveying native bees in urban areas when she came across a bee she couldn’t identify in Perth. Using iNaturalist to record her observations and connect with other experts, she helped confirm it was a brand-new species.
This native bee was later named Leioproctus zephyr in honour of her dog, Zephyr. Kit’s work shows how our own gardens and parks can still surprise us with new species.
A colourful spider surprise
In Western Australia, two amateur spider enthusiasts, Flynn Prall and James McMulkin, made an exciting discovery while exploring areas near Capel and Mount Romance. They photographed brilliantly coloured peacock spiders with patterns never seen before and shared their images on iNaturalist.
Their observations sparked a wave of excitement among experts, including well-known peacock spider researcher Dr Jurgen Otto. Thanks to these photos, the new spiders were formally identified and described.
Fungus among us
Even the youngest explorers can make a difference. Isabella Teal, a young nature lover in New South Wales, found an unusual fungus growing on a dead spider while walking near Rowlands Creek with her dad. Together, they posted the find on iNaturalist, where fungal experts realised it was something completely new.
The species was later described and named Acremonium isabellae in Isabella’s honour. Her discovery adds another unique entry to Australia’s incredible fungal diversity, reminding us that remarkable finds can happen anywhere, even on a local bushwalk.
Why it matters
All these discoveries have something in common: everyday Australians who took the time to look, wonder, and share what they saw. Thanks to platforms like iNaturalist, these nature lovers helped researchers fill in gaps about Australia’s wildlife, uncovering animals and fungi that had never been documented before.
Wildlife Queensland Project Officer, Dr Tamielle Brunt, put it perfectly:
“The most valuable information I receive for platypus conservation across Queensland often comes from everyday people walking along their local creek and sharing what they see. Citizen scientists are the eyes on the water, spotting subtle changes and helping us protect these animals.”
In Australia, wildlife data often starts with a simple photo and builds toward real-world conservation. When you submit a research‑grade sighting on iNaturalist, it’s automatically shared with the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA), our national biodiversity database, supported by CSIRO and museums. Each week, ALA sends verified records on to WildNet, Queensland’s official wildlife system, which underpins environmental assessments, habitat mapping and government decision-making. In other words, a photo of a wildlife species you take today could help shape tomorrow’s conservation policies.
Citizen science is transforming how discoveries happen. Instead of relying on a few experts to explore vast landscapes, we now have thousands of eyes across the country ready to spot something new. Whether it’s in your backyard, on a weekend hike, or at a national park, you might be the one to bring a new species to light.
What you can do:
- Check out iNaturalist and download their app.
- Become a Wildlife Protector. Donating regularly allows Wildlife Queensland to plan and allocate resources to projects and campaigns, now and into the future.
- Subscribe to our eBulletin Talking Wildlife to learn more about your local wildlife, plus Wildlife Queensland’s latest news and offers.