New Three-Edible Bug Species Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh

Tags: State News

A team of entomologists discovered three new species of edible stink bugs in Arunachal Pradesh.

An Overview of the News

• These bugs belong to the genus Coridius within the family Dinidoridae (Hemiptera).

• The new species are named Coridius adii, Coridius insperatus, and Coridius esculentus.

• The findings were published in the peer-reviewed open-access journal PLOS One.

Research Team and Support:

• The research team included Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan (Team Lead), Swapnil Boyane, Sandeep Sen, Nikhil U. Joshi, and Pavan Kumar Thunga from Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru, and Hemant Ghate from Modern College of Arts Commerce and Science, Pune.

• The study was supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), as part of the project titled "Bio-resource and Sustainable Livelihoods in North-East India."

About the Genus Coridius:

• Coridius is economically important, as species of this genus are consumed by Indigenous people in northeast India.

• These bugs are relatively large, ranging from 15 mm to 25 mm in size, and primarily feed on plant sap.

• Entomophagy (eating insects) is a long-standing tradition in Northeast India.

Details of Each Species:

• Coridius adii:

  • Named after the Adi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, who consume it as food.

  • Characterized by a pale brown to dark brown color with irregular yellow patches on its upper body.

• Coridius insperatus:

  • Unique features include 4-segmented antennae and a copper-colored back.

  • Differentiates from similar bugs which have 5-segmented antennae and are dark brown, yellow, or black on top.

  • Consumed by the Nyishi and Adi tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.

  • Sold in the Nirjuli local market in Itanagar during the winter season (October-January).

• Coridius esculentus:

  • Considered a delicacy among ethnic communities.

  • Consumption has neurotoxic effects, causing photophobia (sensitivity to light).

  • The metathoracic glands of these bugs may secrete chemicals responsible for this intoxication.