Mid West wildflower watchers help find new species of bug-eating sundew

Everyday Aussies, including a Jurien Bay nature photographer, have helped spot new types of a carnivorous plant species.

Six new, or rediscovered, species of the insect-eating sundew species called the Drosera group were identified by scientists from Curtin University thanks to images shared online by curious wildflower watchers.

Daniel Anderson, a nature photographer from Jurien Bay, spotted the plants while wandering through the Lesueur National Park.

Finding out he had helped discover a new species has sparked a deeper passion for the environment, Mr Anderson said.

“It has been more than five years since I started my photography, which at first helped me learn about local plants and animals but since finding the sundew it has become a passion of mine to educate others on the importance of conservation of our unique flora and fauna,” he said.

The sundews have a number of unique features, including a sticky glue produced in drops on their tentacled leaves which allows them to catch insects.

Many of these species burrow underground during the summer, meaning they can be a challenge to find.

Along with Mr Anderson, a pair of wildflower watchers from Dongara and a farmer near the Stirling Range National Park also helped the scientists identify the plants with their photos.

Researcher Thilo Krueger said citizen scientists, enthusiasts who share their findings online, are playing a greater role in science.

“Increasingly, scientists are discovering new species through online data, usually in the form of photos, shared by naturalists, hikers, campers and photographers, who may be experts, amateurs or simply casual observers,” he said.

“These citizen scientists share their findings online and thereby act as the eyes and ears of professional scientists in the field.”