Huaihua, August 8 (He Lechuan, Tang Jiaxing) The relevant person in charge of the Hunan Yingzui National Nature Reserve Management Bureau revealed on the 14th that the internationally renowned zoological journal "ZooKeys" published an authoritative article on August 14, and scientific experts found a new insect species in the reserve - the eagle's beak Liaoxi mud beetle.
In July 2022, Hunan Yingzuijie National Nature Reserve Management Bureau entrusted Central South University of Forestry and Technology to launch a comprehensive scientific investigation of animals and plants in the reserve. After nearly a year of investigation, Professor Huang Jianhua's team of the insect group investigated a large number of insect species, one of which was Zaitzevia, an insect of the family Elmidae, after consulting with Professor Chen Xiangsheng of Guizhou University, it was finally determined as a new species and named Zaitzevia yingzuijieensis Jiang & Chen.
Male dorsal view and identification characteristics of the eagle-beaked Creek mud armor. Photo courtesy of County Financial Media
The creek mud beetles are a small and medium-sized class of beetles, most of the adults and larvae are strictly aquatic insects, mostly inhabiting the shallow water environment of the stream under the rocks. Adults and larvae are incapable of swimming and can only crawl in the water, feeding on algae or plant debris that grows on soaked stones and fallen trees. The stream mud beetle is very sensitive to changes in water quality and is a good water quality indicator insect.
According to scientific experts, so far, 12 species of the genus Liaoxi mud beetle have been recorded in China, and the discovery of the Liaoxi mud beetle in the eagle's beak boundary has refreshed the status of zero records of this genus in Hunan, which not only enriches the species diversity of the reserve, but also has great significance for the systematic study and evolution of insects in the family Xixi mud beetle.
Yingzuijie National Nature Reserve is located in the southwest of Hunan Province, east of the central part of Huitong County, the southern section of the western branch of the Xuefeng Mountain Range, and the middle section of Wushui, a tributary of Yuanshui. The climate of the reserve is a humid central subtropical climate, with abundant hydrothermal conditions and rich and diverse vegetation types, which provides a good habitat for all kinds of animals, including insects.
Hunan Yingzuijie National Nature Reserve. Photo courtesy of County Financial Media
"In recent years, Huitong County has adhered to the development strategy of 'ecological county' and continued to polish Huitong's ecological business card. In March this year, our scientific expedition team carried out a scientific investigation in the Yingbei National Nature Reserve, and discovered a unique plant in China, Hunan snake root grass, and a very small population of Acacia Poon Orchid. Li Xiaoping, senior engineer of the Hunan Yingbei National Nature Reserve Management Bureau, said that not long after, the Yingbei Jie Lianxi mud armor was found again, indicating that the environment of the Yingbei National Nature Reserve is very superior and is a treasure trove of biodiversity. (End)