Citizen Scientists Discover Six New Insect Species in Malaysia

Six new insect species have reportedly been discovered by a team of citizen scientists in the Danum Valley near Lahad Datu in Sabah, Malaysia. The area is one of Malaysia's leading tropical rainforest regions and is also known as a "hub of biodiversity."

The discovery was led by Taxon Expedition, which runs a field exploration program to "discover and name new organisms." The organization is widely known for its slogan, "You can be Darwin too."

The newly discovered species include beetles with the scientific names "Clavicornaltica sabahensis," "Dermatohomoeus maliauensis," and "Colensia chungi." Using the Winkler extraction method, the citizen scientists collected dead leaves from the rainforest floor and sifted them to gather insects. Under the guidance of expedition leader Professor Menno Schilthuizen, they studied the specimens in a field laboratory, photographed them, and collected genetic material from the insects to prepare scientific materials. They also gave the newly discovered insects "names."

Dr. Iva Njunji, Taxon Expedition's expedition director and a biologist, said, "The efforts of citizen scientists can accelerate the rate at which previously unknown species are discovered." Scientists claim that the proportion of undiscovered animal and plant species may be as high as 80%.

Dr. Njunji said, "You do not necessarily have to be a trained taxonomist to discover a new species," and warned that "areas with high concentrations of diverse, still-undiscovered plants and animals are at risk from environmental destruction."

The collected specimens were deposited in the insect museum at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and further details were published in an online journal.