When Myra Campbell of Friend started helping her grandson Matt Turner collect insects for a biology class assignment, she never dreamed she’d capture a bug never before seen in Oklahoma.

The insect, scientifically known as Zaprionus indianus, and commonly known as a vinegar fly, was feeding on rotting pears in Campbell’s yard.

“There were hundreds of them,” she said. “I just took the net and scooped them up.”

Campbell then went to the website BugGuide.net to identify the insects she and Matt had collected.

One insect was difficult to find and Campbell spent hours searching the Internet for it.

“I spent hours online looking for a match,” said Campbell. “I knew it was a fruit fly and when I found it, I said ‘That’s it!’ I was really excited because I knew we had a really unusual bug.”

After identifying the insect, Campbell e-mailed Dr. Gary J. Steck, an entomologist named on one of the websites she searched.

“This is a useful discovery and I appreciate the notification,” answered Steck. “I encourage you to capture a few of the flies and submit them for expert confirmation. Only with proper documentation can your discovery be added to the scientific literature on the expanding range of the fly.”

Steck then instructed Campbell to freeze the flies and then to preserve them in rubbing alcohol, package them and send them to him.

“I will confirm your identification and relay the information to those who are tracking the movement of this invasive insect,” said Streck.

Campbell also sent a sample to Dr. Richard Grantham, an entomologist at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.

“Although we do not research these flies, we do like to know what is in the state,” said Grantham.

A few days later, Campbell received an e-mail from Streck.

“Congratulations! You and your grandson apparently are the first to document the presence of Zaprionus indianus in the state of Oklahoma,” he wrote. “Make sure his teachers hear of this! You will be getting an official determination in a day or two. Your specimens were well-packed and arrived in good condition. I will add them to our museum collection.”

Campbell also received an e-mail from Dutch biologist Kim van der Linde who is researching the migration of the vinegar fly.