KOLKATA, April 12: Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and Germany’s Museum A Koenig have identified six new species of Sericinae beetles in northeast India, according to a study published in the journal Zootaxa.
The collaborative team, comprising Devanshu Gupta, Debika Bhunia, and Kailash Chandra from ZSI, along with Dirk Ahrens from Museum A Koenig, conducted a detailed examination of beetle specimens housed at the Zoological Survey of India in Kolkata and the Museum A Koenig in Germany.
Their research led to the discovery of six previously unknown beetle species and also documented 28 additional species in the region, significantly contributing to the understanding of the area’s rich insect diversity.
The newly discovered species have been named Maladera champhaiensis, Neoserica churachandpurensis, Maladera barasingha, Maladera lumlaensis, Serica subansiriensis, and Maladera onam, reflecting the locations or unique features of each find.
ZSI Director Dhriti Banerjee underscored the importance of the discovery, highlighting the value of international collaboration in furthering biodiversity research and conservation. She stressed the need for expanded sampling in under-explored areas like northeast India to deepen understanding and bolster protection of its unique ecosystem.
Banerjee also emphasized that documenting species is a crucial step toward effective conservation planning and environmental management. She added that such efforts support sustainable initiatives like ecotourism, which not only benefit local communities but also promote long-term environmental stewardship.
The discovery serves as a significant milestone in entomological research and reinforces the ecological importance of India’s northeast as a biodiversity hotspot.
