A British researcher had recently detected a new species belonging to a group of insects so unusual that it is nearest relative was seen during the late 1960s.
As specified in a Phys.org report, Anglia Ruskin University's Dr. Alvin Helden discovered the new species of leafhopper, which he called "Phlogis kibalensis," during field research with students in the Kibale National Park's rainforest in western Uganda.
The new species, which is characterized with a unique metallic sheen, pitted body, and similar to most leafhoppers, distinctly shaped male reproductive organs, in this circumstance, partly leaf-shaped, belongs to the so-called "Phlogis" genus or group.
Before this new find, the last documented sighting of a leafhopper from this infrequent genus in 1969 was in the Central African Republic.
Leafhoppers
As specified in a similar Bioengineer.org report, leafhoppers are closely associated with cicadas although are much tinier, with the male of the newly detected Phlogis kibalensis species just 6.5 millimeters in length.
Essentially, this insect species feed mainly on plant sap, directly sucked from the phloem, and are preyed on by invertebrates, which include beetles, spiders, parasitic wasps, including birds.
A member of the Applied Ecology Research Group at ARU, Dr. Helden said, to discover this new species is once-in-a-lifetime attainment, specifically as its nearest relative was last seen in a different country more than five decades ago. He added, he knew it was something that was undeniably very special as soon as he discovered it.
The scientist explained, leafhoppers of this group, as well as the wide tribe, are very unique in terms of appearance, not to mention, they are infrequently found.
In fact, he added, they are so remarkably unusual that their biology stays nearly totally unknown, and they know almost nothing about the new species he found, including the plant it's feeding on, or its function or role in the local ecosystem.
'Photographic Field Guides' Produced
According to the scientist, there is so much still to discover, not only about the said species but so many others, which include the numerous species that are still waiting to be found. He added it is remarkably sad to think that some species will turn extinct before "we are even aware of their existence."
Essentially, there is a certain wonderful place such as the Kibale National Park in Uganda, where wildlife will survive, although outside reserves and national parks, the amount of rainforest that has been cleared in the tropics is said to be devastating.
Unusual species could exist anywhere, the scientist elaborated. However, he continued, deforestation means it is unavoidable that species will be lost even before they get discovered.
Since the mid-2000s, Dr. Helden has been leading field trips for students to the Kibale National Park close to the border of Uganda, with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
As part of the ARU work, Helden has been recording the insects found in the park and has produced picture guides to butterflies, tortoise beetles, and hawkmoths of Kibale.
The scientist also explained, he has been taking pictures of insects in Kibale National Park for many years, and they have now begun to collate the images into "photographic field guides," as they wanted to give something back to the Uganda people, who have been very hospitable to ARU during their field trips.
Related information about insect species is shown on Origins Explained's YouTube video below:
Check out more news and information on Insects in Science Times.
