KOTA KINABALU (March 19): A collaborative research project involving the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD), Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) at the National University of Singapore, and French National Museum of Natural History Museum (MNHN), has led to the discovery of two new species of bush crickets (katydids).
The newly described species, Tapiena dimidia from Maliau Basin and Tapiena munae from Long Pasia, were documented in a study published in Zootaxa (5604 (4): 505-528) on March 17.
The research also includes new locality records and descriptions of calling songs of bush crickets from the family Phaneropterinae, marking a significant contribution to the understanding of biodiversity in the region.
Lead author Dr Tan Ming Kai (LKCNHM), together with Dr Tony Robillard (MNHN), have been working on this group of insects with Dr Arthur Chung (SFD) and the FRC Entomology Team (Razy Japir, Dayang Fazrinah Ag Damit, John LY, Herwin M, and Azizan A) for six years since 2019, with support from the Sabah Biodiversity Council and the centre.
The recent collaborative project received funding from the National Geographic Society.
Specimens will be deposited at the insect collection of the Forest Research Centre in Sepilok under SFD.
Chief conservator of forests Datuk Frederick Kugan emphasised the importance of research collaboration in biodiversity conservation, more so in the diverse groups of tropical insects.
“It is through networking with the scientific experts that we are able to explore more of the interesting information from the rainforests. Such information will contribute towards a better understanding of the inhabitants and their ecology in Sabah’s forests.
“The discovery of new species will enhance conservation efforts of the department in the selected forest reserves,” he said.
He also thanked Sabah Biodiversity Centre, Yayasan Sabah, and others who have assisted during the fieldwork, as indicated in the acknowledgements of the paper.
Specimen of Tapiena dimidia from Maliau Basin. — Handout photo
-Agency
