Why This New Species' Name Seemingly Refers To Humans As 'Unwise'

A team of scientists has identified a new species in Kosovo and its name seemingly refers to humans as "unwise" — for a rather valid reason.

The new species, described in a paper published this month in Biodiversity Data Journal, is a caddisfly — an aquatic insect — found in Kosovo. Believed to be a "microendemic," it is said to be the second known caddisfly species to be found only in the Kosovan part of the Sharr Mountains.

"The Sharr Mountains are one of the most important hotspots of freshwater and terrestrial biodiversity in the Balkan Peninsula, with many endemic and rare plant and animal species," the researchers wrote, noting that the mountain range spans across Kosovo, North Macedonia and Albania.

The team named the species Potamophylax humoinsapiens. "Humo" is a Latin term meaning "to cover with soil" or "bury," while "insapiens" means "unwise," referring to "the unwise and careless treatment of habitats of the new species," the researchers noted.

Human activities such as illegal logging, construction of dams and pollution have badly impacted some areas in the Sharr Mountains.

"Some of these activities occur in the very vicinity of the freshwater ecosystems where the new species is found," the researchers wrote.

In fact, during sampling in 2021, the species was no longer found in one of the areas where it existed a decade ago. More law enforcement is needed to protect the caddisfly species in the area, the researchers said.

The name "humoinsapiens" also sounds rather like "Homo insapiens," said University of Prishtina Professor Halil Ibrahimi, who led the team of scientists, according to Pensoft Publishers. If Homo sapiens — the name for modern humans — means "wise human," Homo insapiens appears to be calling humans "unwise."

"With its actions, humankind has caused the extinction of many species of insects and other organisms during the past decades and has degraded greatly all known ecosystems in the planet," said Prof. Ibrahimi. "The debate on questioning wise nature of humans is already ongoing."

Indeed, the names of species can sometimes help them get the attention they need. For instance, a team of researchers previously named a new spider genus after musician David Bowie. They believe such attractive names are "much more likely to be remembered" and can help in their conservation.

A rocket frog species in Ecuador was named the "Resistance Rocket Frog in a show of defiance against a local mining project.

In fact, the team behind the naming of Potamophylax humoinsapiens had previously named another species Potamophylax coronavirus, referring to the "pandemic" that humans have brought upon the freshwater systems in the Balkans, according to Pensoft Publishers.

"(W)e are making insect species talk to our collective consciousness," the researchers said. "It is in humankind's capacity to earn the name Homo sapiens again."