Post by Sharon Faulkner on Aug 17, 2007 8:44:55 GMT -5
Caver Hopes to Protect His Discoveries
2007/8/17
By Marcia Downham
A Port Alberni caver hopes to protect an area around Sproat Lake that is filled with spectacular caves and ancient species. Craig Wagnell, president of the Central Island Caving Club in Port Alberni, said he discovered and surveyed the caves in that area two years ago and was amazed by all the things he had found. “It was absolutely mind-blowing finding all these unfound caves and untouched treasures.”
Wagnell, who has been caving for 25 years, said he was taking pictures of fossils in one of the underground caves when he came across a small unusual bug. “I took some pictures of the bug, I posted them on the website and before I knew it I was getting e-mails from people in cave clubs asking me where the cave was that I had found the bug.”
Wagnell said as soon as people started to show an interest, he researched the bug and realized he found a very rare species. “I took seven samples of the bug, put them in alcohol and sent them away to cave dwelling insect expert in the United States.”
The expert told him he had discovered a Dipluran Campodeidae, which is a small, almost transparent, ancient eyeless hexapod that is thought to be older than the insects.
Read Full Article
Click here to view photos of Wagnell’s cave discoveries.
Click here to view video of rare cave bug.
2007/8/17
By Marcia Downham
A Port Alberni caver hopes to protect an area around Sproat Lake that is filled with spectacular caves and ancient species. Craig Wagnell, president of the Central Island Caving Club in Port Alberni, said he discovered and surveyed the caves in that area two years ago and was amazed by all the things he had found. “It was absolutely mind-blowing finding all these unfound caves and untouched treasures.”
Wagnell, who has been caving for 25 years, said he was taking pictures of fossils in one of the underground caves when he came across a small unusual bug. “I took some pictures of the bug, I posted them on the website and before I knew it I was getting e-mails from people in cave clubs asking me where the cave was that I had found the bug.”
Wagnell said as soon as people started to show an interest, he researched the bug and realized he found a very rare species. “I took seven samples of the bug, put them in alcohol and sent them away to cave dwelling insect expert in the United States.”
The expert told him he had discovered a Dipluran Campodeidae, which is a small, almost transparent, ancient eyeless hexapod that is thought to be older than the insects.
Read Full Article
Click here to view photos of Wagnell’s cave discoveries.
Click here to view video of rare cave bug.