Rüstem Hayat discovers new fly species named after late son

Professor Rüstem Hayat of Isparta University of Applied Sciences has discovered a new species of flower fly (Syrphidae) in the high altitudes of Erzurum, Northeast Anatolia. The new species, named ‘Orthonevra abdullahi’, was officially introduced to the scientific community in the journal ‘Zoologischer Anzeiger’ this September.

In a personal tribute, Professor Hayat named the species after his son, Abdullah, who passed away at the age of one in 1998. The discovery was part of an international collaborative study involving 15 scientists from approximately nine countries, which included the examination of specimens collected from both Turkey and Georgia.

The fly plays a vital ecological role. In its larval stage, it lives in organic-rich soil, aiding in decomposition and mineral processing. As an adult, it contributes significantly to the pollination of flowering plants. This discovery marks the 17th species contributed by Professor Hayat to the field of entomology.