Scientist names new fly species after the Professor who has supported his work
A Professor from The University of Manchester has had his name immortalised as a new species of fly.
Professor Richard Preziosi, from the Faculty of Life Sciences, said he was delighted with the unusual tribute from researcher Dr Dave Penney.
It follows his continued support of Dr Penney’s unfunded research into amber rocks which he has been investigating for around 20 years.
Dr Penney discovered the new species of fly, which he has named Proceroplatus preziosii, on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, after finding a fossil in 16 million-year-old amber from the Dominican Republic. His findings were confirmed by Dr Neal Evenhuis, of the Bishop Museum in Hawaii, who is the leading world expert on this group. The species is a tiny gnat just a few millimetres long belonging to the Keroplatidae family. (more…)