Zhejiang News, Taizhou, March 21 (Tong Xiaoyu) On March 21, Taizhou University announced that researchers from its College of Life Sciences have recently discovered two new insect species in Zhejiang: the Four-Ringed Chironomid and the Blackleg Chironomid. The findings were published in the international entomology research journal Insects, a collaboration between Taizhou University and the Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.
Professor Qi Xin's team at the College of Life Sciences conducted an in-depth study on the species of chironomids in different habitats, resulting in the 15th and 16th new species of chironomids they have collected and published in Zhejiang in nearly 3 years.
During the discovery process, researchers made full use of modern biological technologies and techniques, integrating diverse data such as morphology, molecules, and ecology. By comparing and analyzing the genetic information and morphological characteristics of new species with known species, they finally confirmed the unique identity and status of the new species.
Dr. Song Chao from Taizhou University stated that chironomids do not bite, and their larvae live in various water bodies, making them crucial environmental indicators of water quality. Color spots are usually considered intraspecific variations within chironomids and not the primary basis for species classification. However, the team's latest research reveals unprecedented differences in color spots among the new chironomid species. These differences are not only reflected in spot color and size but also in distribution and combination patterns. Furthermore, relevant molecular data support their classification as new species. The discovery of these new species suggests that the species diversity of chironomids may be severely underestimated, with a large number of cryptic species yet to be discovered.
Qi Xin explained that insects are typically named based on their physical characteristics, and sometimes based on their geographic distribution (e.g., the Chinese Forked Chironomid, found along the Zhejiang coast). Some insects are also named after their collectors. The discovery of these new species not only enriches the diversity of chironomid insects but also marks an important contribution to China's biodiversity research.
