15-year-old naturalist Vasco Fonseca finds possible new mite species in northern Portugal

Vasco Fonseca, a 15-year-old from Azeitão, has built a life around observing nature, from childhood snail rescues to bird festivals and citizen science. At Christmas 2024, lifting a rock in the hills near Porto, he photographed a tiny creature later identified as belonging to the mite genus Opilioacarus, possibly never recorded in Portugal and perhaps a new species. He also studies wild orchids and encourages beginners to start close to home, use the iNaturalist app, join local events and respect habitats. A small patch of spontaneous vegetation at his school has produced 545 recorded species.