In a revelation published in Current Biology, researchers unveiled a fascinating discovery concerning a particular species of daddy longlegs. Contrary to the typical expectation of these arachnids having a maximum of two eyes, this particular group was found to harbor an additional four eyes. Although these extra ocular organs never reach full maturity, their presence indicates a much older lineage for this arachnid group — approximately 50 million years more ancient than previously theorized. This finding challenges conventional understanding and prompts a reevaluation of the evolutionary timeline of daddy longlegs.

         Unlike spiders, which can boast up to eight eyes, daddy longlegs, comprising around 6,500 species, typically possess only two eyes. However, a study in 2014 documented a fossilized specimen of daddy longlegs featuring four eyes. This prompted developmental biologist Guilherme Gainett and colleagues from Boston Children’s Hospital to embark on an investigation. Through meticulous examination of Phalangium opilio embryos, they discovered not only the standard pair of front-facing eyes but also hints of two additional sets of eyes — one front-facing and one set on the side.

         Further exploration into the evolutionary history of these side-set eyes revealed intriguing insights. The researchers proposed that the fossilized four-eyed arachnid predates previous estimations of their lineage's age. According to their analysis, the last common ancestor of daddy longlegs roamed the Earth approximately 537 million years ago, a staggering 49 million years earlier than previously believed. This reshapes our understanding of the evolutionary journey of these fascinating creatures and highlights the importance of ongoing research in uncovering hidden biological mysteries.

          Meanwhile, in a separate endeavor, scientists unveiled eight newfound species of masked bees, one of which was named Hylaeus navai in honor of the residents of Navai village in Fiji, who aided in their collection. This discovery traces back to 1965 when renowned bee biologist Charles Michener stumbled upon a new species of masked bee in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia, far from its nearest relatives in New Zealand. The mystery of how these bees traversed the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean might lie in the bees' propensity for nesting in wood. It is conceivable that these bees hitched rides on drifting wood across thousands of kilometers, eventually settling in habitable spots on remote islands.