Guwahati: The ‘World Tiger Beetle Day’ was observed on November 11 through a virtual get-together with Dr. David Pearson, a renowned entomologist specializing in the research of tiger beetles from Arizona State University.
World Tiger Beetle Day was celebrated to honour David Pearson on his birthday for his contributions to tiger beetle studies in India and globally and to popularize the amazing colourful predators.
Rare tiger beetle species native to Meghalaya was the centre of attention at World Tiger Beetle Day. The virtual meet and subsequent discussions underscored the need for targeted action in Meghalaya, urging local bodies like the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council to include tiger beetle protection in their conservation priorities.
Experts highlighted that greater public awareness of these “six-legged tigers” could help build support for preserving their habitats and ensure that these rare species continue to thrive in Meghalaya’s forests.
Dr. David Pearson, a Research Professor at Arizona State University, USA, has conducted extensive research on Tiger Beetle ecology, natural history, and biogeography using mathematical modelling, across the world.
He has been actively conserving Tiger Beetles via education, citizen science, and popular writings.
This event was organized by the Zoo Outreach Organisation (Zooreach), an NGO working on wildlife conservation.
Dr. David delivered a talk on Tiger Beetles, their natural history, fascinating behaviour, diversity, ecology, and conservation methods.
The talk was followed by discussions with participants comprising students, naturalists, wildlife educators, conservationists, nature lovers, and researchers.
Wildlife NGO ROAR launched four Indian Tiger Beetle species lapel pins to create more fandom for the little insects and to honor Dr. David for his unparalleled work on the species.
To honour his contributions and dedication to the species, experts at the Red List Assessment Workshop of Tiger Beetles of India in May 2024 decided to celebrate his birthday on 11 November as World Tiger Beetle Day.
India boasts 241 tiger beetle species, ranking third globally.
To better understand their conservation status, the South Asian Invertebrate Specialist Group (SAsISG) conducted an IUCN Red List Assessment workshop in May 2024. Researchers from across the country assessed 122 endemic species, with a concerning 46% categorized as threatened due to factors like deforestation, mining, tourism, and urbanization.
Meghalaya’s tiger beetle species, such as the Thin Brush Tiger Beetle (Neocollyris macilenta) and the Ringed Brush Tiger Beetle (Neocollyris annulicornis), were prominent topics at an IUCN Red List Assessment Workshop.
One of the key recommendations from the workshop was to raise awareness and generate interest in this often-overlooked group of insects.
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Tiger beetles are top predators of the insect world and they play a crucial role in managing other insect populations and maintaining ecosystem balance.
