Source: Voice of China, China Central Radio and Television Corporation
According to the Voice of China of the Central Radio and Television Corporation reported on June 4, a new species was recently discovered in Zhejiang , the Thai-ribbon flat wax cicada. The successful discovery of Dr. Song Zhishun's team at the Institute of Insect Resources and Diversity of Jiangsu Second Normal University was also published in the International Journal of Animal Taxonomy. Previously, Zhejiang has also discovered another new species of toad, the Baishan ancestral horned toad.
Is there anything special about the Thai ribbon flat wax cicada? Has it not been discovered by humans before because it is rarer? Why is Zhejiang a province rich in biodiversity in China?
△ Tai shun with flat wax cicada (image source: CCTV News)
The same cicada, how is it different from the American 17-year cicada?
Song Zhishun, doctor of zoology in the School of Biochemistry of Jiangsu Second Normal University, said that the discovery of new species in Taishun County, Zhejiang Province, shows that Taishun County has a good ecological environment and rich insect species diversity.
The Taishun band of the flat-waxed cicada belongs to the order Hemiptera, the wax cicada family, the flat-waxed cicada family, the common flat-waxed cicada insects include the spotted cicada (commonly known as "flower girl") and the rice planthopper (commonly known as "midge worm") that harm rice. Insects of this family are plant-eating, and by sucking plant sap to survive, it often leads to plant wilting, death and spreading plant viruses, and many insects in the family Cicada family are pests that harm agricultural and forestry plants.
The "17-year-old cicada" that troubles the American people belongs to the suborder Cephalopoda, Suborder Cicada, and The General Family of Cicadas. In terms of classification, wax cicadas and cicadas are considered to be the same phylum, they are close in phylogenetic relationship, but their appearance is very different.
△ 17 years of cicadas and cicadas metamorphosis (Source: Xinhua News Agency)
Undiscovered ≠ rare
Dr. Song Zhishun said that because insects are one of the largest number of species in all animal species, coupled with the small number of insects, relatively hidden life scenes, narrow distribution areas, time-based occurrence periods, and not many workers studying insects, many new species of insects have not been discovered. For example, the adult occurrence period of the Thai-shun flat wax cicada is about September to October, and the rest of the time it exists in the form of weak insects or eggs, so it is not easy to be found.
Dr. Song Zhishun also said that in general, unless there are endangered insects, even insects as new species are not rare and do not require special protection.
Why do new species always find in Zhejiang?
Since the background survey of biodiversity in key areas began in 2019, in addition to the discovery of the Taishun flat wax cicada, another new species has been discovered in Zhejiang, the Baishan ancestral horned toad.
△ Baishan Ancestral Horned Toad (Image source: CCTV News)
Why is Zhejiang a province rich in biodiversity in China?
Zhejiang Province is located in the southeast coast of China, located in the subtropical monsoon climate zone, abundant rainfall, humid air, more mountains and hills, providing a good place for all kinds of animals and plants. The Zhejiang-Fujian mountainous area where Zhejiang is located and the Wuyishan area in northern Fujian belong to 16 biodiversity hotspots in China. Taishun County, where new species were discovered this time, also has Wuyanling National Nature Reserve and Chengtian Radon Spring Provincial Nature Reserve, which are very rich in flora and fauna.
In addition, Zhejiang Province attaches great importance to the protection of the ecological environment and the background investigation of biodiversity, and biodiversity can be well maintained. There are many relevant research teams in Zhejiang Province, which have accumulated a large amount of survey data and published relevant books, which also shows the rich biodiversity of Zhejiang Province from one aspect.
Producer 丨Bai Zhonghua
Reporter丨Fu Zhao
Edited by 丨 Yang Yang Bi Liwei