Research and Inventory of Neglected Invertebrate Groups

Section: Zoology

Responsible staff: Alexander Weigand, Francesco Vitali

Research strategy: Dynamic Archives of Nature; Understanding and Preserving Nature; Society and Natural History

Dark taxa are groups of organisms that have scarcely been recorded scientifically to date—often on a global scale—and for which valid scientific names, detailed descriptions, or information on their distribution and autoecology are frequently lacking. These are often species that are difficult to distinguish using classical methods, for example because they resemble each other closely (cryptic species), are difficult to sample, or are extremely small and inconspicuous. Many of these “obscure” taxa (or their specific developmental stages) can only be reliably identified using modern molecular methods such as DNA barcoding.

Taxonomic work such as inventories, species lists and Red Lists is of crucial importance for dark taxa, as it provides the basis for making unknown or hard‑to‑record species visible and scientifically accessible. At the same time, such work produces distribution data that are relevant for understanding the local and temporal occurrence of species and their ecological interactions, ultimately enabling the development of appropriate conservation measures.

An explicit objective of the Zoology Department is to produce checklists, atlases and Red Lists for neglected taxonomic groups, including dark taxa, in Luxembourg, in order to develop taxonomic expertise within the country. Current projects include work on psyllids (Insecta; Hemiptera; Psylloidea), thrips (Insecta; Thysanoptera), amphipods (Crustacea; Amphipoda), earthworms (Annelida; Oligochaeta) and drain flies (Insecta; Diptera; Psychodidae).

Recent publications :

Dolisy, D., & Weigand, A. M. (2024). Checklist of mayflies (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) of Luxembourg. Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois, 126, 3.

Porco, D., Zangerlé, A., Hermant, S., & Colling, G. (2023). A new cryptic lineage for the earthworm species Aporrectodea caliginosa (Lumbricidae). Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois 125, 119–124.

Schaffner, F., Weigand, A., Ries, C., & Braun, P. (2023). Checklist: Atlas and catalogue of the mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) of Luxembourg - 2023. Version 1.5. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/89zzzh

Weber, D., Brad, T., Weigand, A., & Flot, J. F. (2023). Water diviners multiplied: cryptic diversity in the Niphargus aquilex species complex in Northern Europe. bioRxiv, 2023-08.

Gertsson, C., Schneider, N., & Braun, P. (2022). Checklist of whiteflies and scale insects of Luxembourg. Version 1.11. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/huengf

Rapisarda, C., Weigand, A. M., Braun, P., & Eickermann, M. (2022). First systematic inventory of the jumping plant lice of Luxembourg (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Psylloidea). Biodiversity Data Journal, 10, e77571.

Szeptycki, A., Stomp, N., Weiner, W. M., & Braun, P. (2022). Checklist of Protura species of Luxembourg 2003. Version 1.2. National Museum of Natural History, Luxembourg. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/zsrhzx

Gerecke R., Martin P., Walzberg C. & Walisch T. (2021). Verbreitungsatlas der Wassermilben des Großherzogtums Luxemburg. Ferrantia 85, Musée national d'histoire naturelle, Luxembourg, 175 p.

Wegnez P., Ignace D., & Morro C. (2021). Atlas des fourmis luxembourgeoises (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Ferrantia 84, Musée national d'histoire naturelle, Luxembourg, 130 p.