Plateau biodiversity highlighted by discovery of 99 new insect species in China

LHASA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese researchers have discovered and named one new insect genus and 99 new insect species, shedding fresh light on the diversity of beetles in China, particularly on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau in the west of the country, according to a study published on Wednesday in the international journal Zootaxa.

The newly identified genus, named Medogia, is endemic to Medog County in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Of the 99 new species, 62 were found in Medog, 22 in other parts of Xizang, and 15 in other Chinese provincial-level regions.

The distribution pattern further underscores the importance of Medog in the biodiversity landscape of both China and the world.

Beetles represent the most species-rich group of insects on Earth and serve as an important indicator species for assessing environmental quality, said Ge Siqin, a researcher at the Institute of Zoology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

The study has significantly enriched baseline data on beetle diversity in southwest China, particularly on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and provides important scientific support for research into the origin, evolution and dispersal of beetle fauna in the region, Ge said.

The findings were the result of joint research by multiple scientific institutions and universities, including the Institute of Plateau Biology of Xizang Autonomous Region and the Institute of Zoology under the CAS.