Source: Guangzhou Daily
Today
The insect world has welcomed a new member
From Haizhu, Guangzhou
"Hyders Firefly"
October 31
In Guangzhou Haizhu National Wetland Park
Held in Guangdong Province and Guangzhou City
At the 31st Wildlife Conservation Awareness Month
Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences
Yang Xingke's team of researchers
Officially released to the public
Recently found in the Haizhu wetland
A rare insect new species
The research team named it
The results were published in
Journal of Insect Taxonomy
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Figure (1-4) Fourteen Spotted Leaf Beetle, 1 Back View, 2 Side View, 3 Male External Genitalia Back View, 4 Male External Genitalia Side View; Figure (5-8) Hai zhusi Leaf Beetle, 5 Back View, 6 Side View, 7 Male External Genitalia Back View, 8 Male External Genitalia Side View.
The new species is 6.0-6.5 mm long and 4.0-4.3 mm wide. Body yellow; antennae black brown, 1-3 segments yellow; 7 black spots per coleopteryn, 1 pair of basal, central and not far from the end, 1 black spot at the end; yellow or yellowish brown on the ventral surface and feet of the body, and black brown on the median and posterior thorax plates. The head is more prominently segmented, the foot is developed, the front and middle feet are shorter, and the hind feet are the longest.
According to reports, new species have been discovered in the past
It is generally in the wild in the natural environment
This time, new species were found in the urban wetland environment
Relatively rare
It is also the restoration of Guangzhou's urban ecological environment
An important indicator!
Named after the "Sea Pearl"!
Specimen of Hyders firefly
The most remarkable result of this insect diversity survey is the discovery of a new species of Sphenoraia in the family Coleoptera, which is named "Hyderaceae" Sphenoraia (Sphenoraioides) haizhuensis sp. nov.。
Coleoptera is the most diverse and widely distributed order in the insect and even animal kingdoms, containing about 420,000 known species. Among them, the leaf beetle family is divided into four subfamilies: Chrysomelinae, Galerucinae, Alticinae and Synetinae.
The subfamily Fluorite is rich in species, and is the largest taxon in the family Pylocarpus, with more than 7,000 species known worldwide and 1,054 species in China. Prior to this, there were 25 species in the genus Sphragmata worldwide, and a total of 11 species were clearly recorded in China, mainly in southwest China, and 3 species were previously recorded in Guangdong.
Specimens of the genus Asteraceae collected this time
After identification by the investigation team
Identify this fluorescent leaf beetle
Unlike any previously found Stupaena
It is the first new species reported in the world
Members of Yang Xingke's research group and Haizhu wetland researchers worked together in the wetland to prepare to collect insect samples
This species was collected from the Martens net and buried tank in the core conservation area of Haizhu Wetland, nearby fruit trees such as mango and yellow peel, and compared with the biological characteristics of related taxa, it was further speculated that its larvae may grow underground to feed on plant roots.
Due to the repeated lighting near the collection site, there was no more specimen, and it was inferred that the adult insects did not have phototropism. The new species was first discovered, and its population is currently found to be very low, coupled with the small number of relevant references, so it is currently impossible to know its specific habits. Combined with the analysis of the distribution area, haizhus is a new species endemic to Guangdong Province.
Insect diversity survey of Haizhu Wetland
Spread out
Biodiversity is an important indicator of the ecological environment, in order to comprehensively and objectively assess the status of insect diversity in Haizhu and provide basic data support for long-term ecological monitoring and subject research in the later stage, Haizhu Wetland cooperated with the Institute of Zoology of Guangdong Academy of Sciences to establish a joint team to launch an insect diversity survey in July 2020.
Martens net installed in the core conservation area of Haizhu Wetland
The survey team installed a total of 28 sampling points in the public open area, restricted open area and wetland conservation area of Haizhu Wetland, and collected them using the Survey Method of Martens Net, Trap Method and FlyIng Block Method.
As of July 2021, the specimens collected from this insect survey have basically completed the collation of order-level element specimens, with more than 150,000 specimens obtained, 192 species of 1 order and 26 families newly recorded, and the number of insect species has increased from the original 346 to 535 species.
Some of the collected specimens that have been sorted and archived
The species richness far exceeded expectations
According to reports, the existing insect specimens in guangdong province do not exceed 2 million, and more than 150,000 insect specimens collected in Haizhu Wetland within one year. In the public perception, the species diversity of urban parks will generally be relatively scarce, but "the richness and diversity of Haizhu Wetland (insect species) subvert our imagination." Professor Yang Xingke said.
In contrast, it is found that the level of insect species in Haizhu Wetland has increased significantly since the last insect diversity survey (2018-2019).
From the perspective of the mesh level, the new spinning foot order has been added.
At the family level, 1 new family was added to the order Porphyripoda, 1 family was added to Coleoptera, 2 families were added to Lepidoptera, 3 families were added to Diptera, 14 families were added to Hymenoptera, and 5 families were added to Hemiptera.
At the species level, 1 new species were added in The Order Zoepoda, 16 new species in Lepidoptera, 25 new species in Coleoptera, 42 new species in Diptera, 98 new species in Hymenoptera, 10 new species in Hemiptera, and 1 new species in Isoptera.
Haizhu Wetland Core Conservation Area
Precious ecological value
Haizhu Wetland, as a rare composite constructed wetland ecosystem where the central wetland of a megacity and the wetland of the inner lake of the city meet with the mosaic of fruit forests, is a relatively young ecological environment with obvious artificial intervention.
"The discovery of the Hyders firefly beetle is of great research value and conservation significance. It shows that under the condition of artificial intervention, the natural ecological environment of Haizhu is good, and the conservation of biodiversity is effective. Professor Yang Xingke said.
According to reports, this insect diversity survey not only increases the public's understanding of biodiversity, but also has important significance for the implementation of effective species protection. The discovery of new species is a scientific wealth added to the world, enriching biodiversity, and has important theoretical and practical significance for agricultural pest control, ecological protection, and study of biological evolution.
Text, photo/ Guangzhou Daily Xinhuacheng Reporter: Liao Jingwen Correspondent: Liu Jinlin, Haizhu Wetland, Haixuan
Comprehensive Guangzhou Haizhu Release, Xinhua News Agency, Haizhu Wetland