Research in the Scalesia forest on Santa Cruz Island revealed more than 200 taxa of parasitoid wasps, compared with only 30 species previously reported for Galapagos. These tiny insects play essential ecological roles and highlight how much remains unknown about the archipelago’s biodiversity and fragile ecosystems in the Pacific Ocean.

The Charles Darwin Research Station is home to the largest Natural History Collections of endemic, native and introduced species of the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. It is also one of the largest in the world with over 135,000 specimens from more than 7,500 species.

The Galapagos Rail (Laterallus spilonota) has been confirmed on Floreana Island for the first time in 190 years. This follows a 2023 eradication campaign that removed most invasive cats and rats, likely aiding its survival. Researchers will conduct genetic testing to determine if the species recolonized or persisted undetected.

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