Oxford News
Oxford Brookes researchers discover new species in Australia
Researchers at Oxford Brookes University have identified a tiny new predator, a feather-legged assassin bug measuring just two millimetres long.
Though small in size, the insect is offering big clues about evolutionary change among its relatives.
Named Aratrichous anacomosus, the insect has been nicknamed the ‘pineapple assassin’ because of a small, pineapple-shaped gland on its body.
It was discovered in South Australia, with another specimen found in Pibara, Western Australia.
Dr Matthew Bulbert, senior lecturer in conservation ecology at Oxford Brookes, said: “This one really surprised us.
“It’s incredibly tiny, and it’s lost some of the features that usually define feather-legged assassin bugs.”
Feather-legged assassin bugs are known for their feathery limbs and ant-hunting behaviour, but this new species differs significantly from its relatives.
The bug has lost many of its signature feather-like hairs, a result of extreme miniaturisation, while its antennae have become larger and more specialised.
Researchers believe these adaptations may help the insect chemically mimic ants in order to live among them.
Despite its tiny size, the ‘pineapple assassin’ retains the gland thought to attract or manipulate ants.
Until now, this feature was believed to be absent in this branch of feather-legged assassin bugs.
Daniel Bardey, the PhD student who discovered the new bug, said: “That’s what makes this species so exciting.
“It appears to be a transitional form that shows how features like this gland were lost and gained during the evolutionary history of these insects.”
The bug’s distribution also surprised scientists.
Specimens were found thousands of kilometres apart in central Australia, despite the species’ inability to fly and its limited movement.
Dr Bulbert said: “Understanding where these species occur is important for conservation, because animals that cannot move far are especially vulnerable if their habitats are disturbed.”
Researchers also found that both male and female bugs have reduced wings, an unusual trait not previously observed in Australian members of this group.
Feather-legged assassin bugs represent one of the oldest lineages of assassin bugs.
Their ancestors are believed to have arrived in Australia long ago and evolved into specialised species found nowhere else on the planet.
The discovery suggests unexpected evolutionary changes.
Dr Bulbert said: “It’s incredibly tiny, and it’s lost some of the features that usually define feather-legged assassin bugs.”
The findings are detailed in the paper ‘Phylogenomics shows loss of myrmecophagous traits in Holoptilinae and necessitates synonymisation of feather-legged assassin bug tribes (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)’ published in the Journal of Systematics and Biodiversity.
The blaze broke out on Monday (August 3) in fields behind houses in Chipping Campden, just across the Oxfordshire border in Gloucestershire.
74-year-old gardener and landscaper Francis Owens died at the scene after a large fire erupted in dry fields behind Berrington Road and Castle Gardens.
Emergency services received multiple 999 calls at 5.38pm reporting a fast‑moving blaze.
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service said 13 fire engines were deployed at the height of the incident.
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Deputy chief fire officer Nathaniel Hooton said: “We were called at 5.38pm on Monday 3 August following multiple reports from members of the public about a large fire in fields behind Berrington Road and Castle Gardens in Chipping Campden.
“As a service, we extend our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased and to the wider community.
“At the height of the incident, 13 fire engines were in attendance. This was a multi‑agency response.
“We worked extremely hard with colleagues from neighbouring fire services to bring the fire under control.”
Gloucestershire Constabulary confirmed that Mr Owens, from the local area, was declared dead at the scene.
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A police spokesperson said: “Following a fire in Chipping Campden last night, a man in his 70s from the local area was sadly confirmed dead at the scene.
“His family and the coroner have been informed, and our thoughts remain with all those who knew him at this time.
“Police do not suspect any third party involvement in the death.2
Speaking to The Independent, Mr Owens’ son Patrick described his father as “the Renaissance man of Chipping Campden” and an “amazing father” who had been devoted to his wife Mandy for 50 years.
The cause of the fire has not yet been established, and Gloucestershire Police and the fire service say investigations are continuing.
The Change.org surpassed the 500,000 milestone just before Thursday afternoon, August 6 and continues to rise at speed.
Hundreds of thousands of people across the UK are demanding the government do not let Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole out of jail early.
Some 5,000 people are expected to be released early under sentencing changes, down from 6,000 after ministers exempted rapists and “serious” child sex offenders as part of the scheme to tackle overcrowding in jails.
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Cole and Bowers remain eligible to be freed halfway through their 13-year sentences after they were convicted of manslaughter in 2020 following Pc Harper’s death in 2019
As she backed the calls, widow Lissie Harper said: “Government has punched us in the gut… they should be ashamed of themselves.
“Hopefully we can make the current Government come to their senses and realise we cannot put people like this back on our streets. Justice should mean justice and serving the sentence given.”
Aileen O’Connor, who chairs the Thames Valley Police Federation, said releasing Cole and Bowers would anger and demoralise serving officers in the area.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said she supported the Police Federation in considering a judicial review.
She told Today: “I’m not arguing against early release. We’ve had early release even under Conservatives.
“I’m against early release of this dangerous category of rapists, paedophiles, killers, including the killers of Pc Andrew Harper.”
Thames Valley Police has released a CCTV image of a man they are searching for in relation to money reportedly being fraudulently withdrawn in Oxfordshire, Ascot and London.
The force said that on May 20, the suspected offender obtained the bank card and PIN number of the victim, a woman in her 20s, which were being posted to her address.
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They then proceeded to withdraw thousands of pounds from the victim’s account over the next 12 days, before the woman became aware and blocked the card.
The money was withdrawn from cash machines at several locations, including NatWest, TSB and Nationwide branches in Witney, HSBC in Chiswick, Nationwide in Oxford, and cash machines at Tesco and Sainsbury’s in Ascot.
This was between 20 May and 1 June 2026.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable David Mathieson, said: “I am appealing to anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity at the cash machines between the dates we are investigating, or has information that may assist us to please get in touch.
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“If you recognise the man in the image, or if this is you, please contact us.
“Anyone with information should call 101 or make an online report, via our website, quoting crime reference number 43260273378.
“If you don’t want to speak directly with police, you can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
“If you suspect your card or account has been compromised, contact your bank immediately.”
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