Journal May 2026 Release_Full Edition - Flipbook - Page 54
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“longhorn” antenna looping from its head. What made it curious, though, was the
long, spindly white hair shrouding its body. It looked like it was covered in some
kind of hairy fungus. The kind that is known to infect insects, turning them into
zombie bugs, mindlessly wandering the forest floor like cursed shadows of their
former insect selves. But this beetle, covered in white hair, was in fact not
infected by a zombie fungus. This white hair was all its own.
James, a University of Queensland PhD student, snapped a picture and took some
notes. When he returned to university, he searched for anything he might find
about the white-haired beetle, but his investigations into the taxonomies of
known insects in this region came up short. So, he wrote an email to experts at
the Australian National Insect Collection and learned that he had in fact
discovered a new insect. And not just a new beetle, but a completely new species.
James’ discovery had single-handedly restructured the known taxonomy of the
genus of beetles. An extortionary discovery on an exquisitely ordinary day.
Discovery in the understory
James Tweed is a scientific researcher. A bug scientist. He loves looking under
rocks and turning over leaves to see what he might find. But little did he know
that he would be at the center of a new discovery in his field. And this discovery
almost eluded him. It camouflaged itself as, of all things, a bird dropping.
Though this story is a wonderful little anecdote for how discovery is often hidden
in plain sight, the reason I call upon James’ discovery story has to do with where
this discovery took place. You see, James made this discovery in what is known as
the rainforest Understory, an ecosystem layer sandwiched between the canopy
up above (the Overstory) and the forest floor below.
The understory of a rainforest is known for being a hostile environment for
rainforest vegetation due to limited access to light resources. Blanketed in
shadow, life in the understory struggles for survival as plants fight for sips of light
cast down from above. Beams splash on the forest floor like illuminating pools,
offering fleeting opportunity for sprouted life to drink their fill. It’s a brutal
landscape as far as plant life goes. One where life must adapt to survive. And as
Animative Descriptions and Vivifying Discovery: Inviting Clients Into The Marvel Of Their Understory
Journal of Contemporary Narrative Therapy, May 2026 Release, p. 52-79.
www.journalnft.com
