Kolkata: 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, including Devanshu Gupta, Debika Bhunia, and Kailash Chandra from ZSI, alongside Dirk Ahrens from Museum A Koenig, conducted a detailed examination of beetle specimens from the Zoological Survey of India in Kolkata and the Museum A Koenig in Germany.
Their study not only unveiled these six previously unknown species but also recorded 28 additional species in the region, enriching knowledge about the area’s insect diversity.
The newly discovered species are named Maladera champhaiensis, Neoserica churachandpurensis, Maladera barasingha, Maladera lumlaensis, Serica subansiriensis, and Maladera onam.
ZSI Director Dhriti Banerjee highlighted the significance of this discovery, emphasising the role of international collaboration in advancing biodiversity research and conservation efforts.
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She called for expanded sampling in under-explored regions like northeast India to better understand and protect its biodiversity.
Banerjee also noted that documenting species is vital for conservation planning and management and supports sustainable initiatives such as ecotourism, which benefit local communities while promoting environmental stewardship.
