TMAG research collab with 21yo Bell twins

Alison Costelloe, Twins Otto and Bruno Bell are drawing attention to some of Australia’s tiny threatened invertebrates, ABC News, 17 November 2024

In short: At the age of 21, twins Otto and Bruno Bell have become experts on Tasmanian snails and weevils.

They have discovered many new species, and say hundreds of snail and weevil species remain undescribed — something they hope they can help change.

What’s next?: The pair are set to have a species of weevil named after them for their work in identifying and describing the beetles.

Tasmanian twins Otto and Bruno Bell have become expert researchers on weevils and land snails. (Alison Costelloe). Watch video here

It all started with acorns.

Twins Bruno and Otto Bell were toddlers when they started their first collection.

Shells, sticks and rocks followed, brought home from bush and beach trips by the bundle.

As the twins grew, they didn’t swap nature for sport or screens — their interest in nature only increased.

Now 21, the pair are two of Tasmania’s only experts on some of the state’s threatened invertebrates.

A macro image of an ornate-looking weevil, tanned coloured with dark brown blotches, standing on a green plant stem.
A relatively uncommon species of weevil endemic to Tasmania. (Supplied: Bruno Bell).

“It was their compact bodies,” Otto said of his fascination with weevils.

“They were almost like transformers, their legs tucked in, their snouts tucked in.”

He discovered weevils on a field trip with Bruno, who was looking for snails.

Bruno’s interest developed during a high school project on endangered species.

“I realised there’s a lot of undescribed species in Tasmania that really need research done on them,” Bruno said.

“Most of the people I’ve talked to have no idea that we even have these land snails, which is fair enough because they are very tiny.”

A man sits at his desk using a microscope.
Otto Bell says he generally does the collecting and data taking, while Bruno does most of the photography. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke).

The twins spend a lot of time together on field trips, taken across the whole state.

“We definitely bring two distinct roles to what we do,” Bruno said. “I do a lot of photography.”

“I generally do the collecting and the data taking,” Otto said.

Their invertebrate collections, along with an abundance of childhood nature treasures, are on display in the mini museums that are their bedrooms.

They’ve visited nature museums around Australia and Europe, including getting a backstage pass to the Natural History Museum in London.

Otto and Bruno also volunteer at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery‘s (TMAG) invertebrates collection, on Hobart’s eastern shore.

They have discovered many new species, and said hundreds of species of snails and weevils remain undescribed — something they hope they can help change.

Three men smile for a photo in a science lab.
Simon Grove (centre) says Bruno and Otto remind him of himself as a younger person. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke).

TMAG curator Simon Grove said the twins’ expertise was invaluable and would continue to be in the future.

“They can spot the tiniest weevil or snail the size of a pinhead, and not only spot it, but then look at it without even so much as a hand lens and be able to say, ‘ooh look at the microsculpture on the protoconch of that snail’,” Dr Grove said.

“It’s just quite remarkable.”

“These guys are just cut out for the sort of things they’re specialising in … and we’re very happy to encourage that.”

Dr Grove said the twins reminded him of himself as a younger person.

It’s a sentiment shared by land snail expert and Bruno’s mentor, Kevin Bonham.

He and Bruno are surveying a species called the ammonite snail, which is endemic to the Greater Hobart area.

A macro image of the head of what appears to be a tan-coloured slug or snail with dark brown blotches
Cystopelta petterdi, one of several “humpback” slug species found in Tasmania. (Supplied: Bruno Bell).

“It’s always great to have more people interested, but it’s particularly great because Bruno has brought along some new ideas,” Dr Bonham said.

“Bruno came up with the idea of turning over rocks that are quite embedded in the soil and you find a lot more of them by this means.

“That set off a chain of events where I was looking for the ammonite snail somewhere else and in the process discovered a new species of snail.

“And then Bruno started using this same method all up and down the east coast and found more new species.”

Otto and Bruno believe their research could have implications for agriculture — in helping to protect crops from weevils considered pests — and for conservation.

A macro image of a brown weevil-looking insect clings to the side of a head of fuschia flower bulbs
Chrysophoracis pulcher, a species of weevil found in western Tasmania. (Supplied: Bruno Bell).

“These [snail] species have been here for millions of years and they’ve played a part in this ecosystem the entire time,” Bruno said.

“If they’re lost there’s nothing similar … and if they’re gone, they’re gone.”

Their research so far means a species of weevil is set to be named after both the Bells.

“It’s pretty incredible actually,” Otto said.

“I would’ve thought only after 10 years I’d get something like that. It’s an honour really.”

A macro image of a tan-coloured weevil-looking insect sitting atop someone's fingertip.
Bruno Bell hopes to raise awareness through photography of the many weevil and snail species. (Supplied: Bruno Bell).

At their Lenah Valley home, 11-year-old fox terrier Acorn is more a source of comfort than curiosity for the twins, as they sit and talk about a childhood of shared interests.

But they see a future of some separation.

“Because we’ve spent our lives together, I want some distinction from him,” Otto said.

Bruno is not offended.

“I think we’ll always have that shared interest and will help each other with research,” he said.