Guwahati: The dense forests of Arunachal Pradesh have yielded fresh insights into the region’s insect diversity, with scientists documenting three cicada species not previously recorded in the state, raising the total number of known species to 30.
The findings come from a study conducted by L. Seitinmang Khongsai, Yomto Mayi, and Ilona Jacinta Kharkongor of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre in Itanagar.
Their research provides a preliminary checklist of cicada species in Arunachal Pradesh and highlights the extent to which the state’s insect diversity remains underexplored, despite its location within the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot.
The scientists recorded Haphsa durga, Tosena melanoptera, and Dundubia annandalei for the first time in the state, based on specimens collected from Senki Valley in Papum Pare district near Itanagar.
Cicadas are among the most distinctive insects of tropical forests, known for the loud songs produced by males during the mating season, which often dominate forest soundscapes. Yet, compared with butterflies and moths, the group has received relatively little scientific attention in Northeast India.
Prior to the study, only 27 species of cicadas had been confirmed from Arunachal Pradesh. The new findings, along with the confirmation of earlier photographic records, have now increased the state’s verified cicada diversity to 30 species.
The researchers also confirmed the presence of species such as Gaeana maculata, Meimuna microdon, and Polyneura ducalis, which had previously been reported only through photographs but are now supported by specimen records.
According to the scientists, the relatively small number of recorded species does not reflect the true diversity of cicadas in Arunachal Pradesh.
They note that the state’s vast forests and varied habitats—ranging from tropical valleys to high-altitude ecosystems—likely support many more undiscovered species, but systematic studies of cicadas in the region remain limited.
The researchers emphasised that expanded field surveys, specimen collection, and acoustic documentation of cicada calls will be crucial for uncovering the full extent of the group’s diversity in the Eastern Himalaya.
The study adds to a growing body of research highlighting the remarkable yet still poorly understood insect diversity of Northeast India, one of the world’s most important biodiversity regions.
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