A new species of cicada, informally dubbed the “Butterfly Cicada” was recently discovered by scientists in Meghalaya. This cicada, belongs to the genus Becquartina and marks the first-ever record of this genus in the country. The discovery, published in the journal Zootaxa, brings the total number of known species in the genus Becquartina to seven.
About Butterfly Cicada
- It is localised in the Garo Hills having thick forests and native vegetation.
- It has colorful wings, that has earned it the nickname “butterfly cicada”, with the species name “bicolour” reflecting its two distinct colour forms.
- Its one-third basal of the hind wing is rich saffron and the apical two-thirds are matte black with prominent rich saffron squarish spots.
- Significance of present discovery: It extends the distributional range of the genus Becquartina from Southeast Asia into Northeast India. It also increases the total number of known Becquartina species to seven.
What are Cicadas?
- Cicada, (family Cicadidae) is any of a group of sound-producing insects.
- More than 3,000 species of cicadas are known across the world.
- Characteristic Features: They have two pairs of membranous wings, prominent compound eyes, and three simple eyes (ocelli).
- They are medium to large in size, ranging from 2 to 5 cm (0.8 to 2 inches).
- Male cicadas produce loud noises by vibrating membranes (tymbals) near the base of the abdomen.
- Female cicadas usually lay their eggs in woody plant tissues that drop from the plant when, or shortly after, the eggs hatch.
- Geographical presence: Most of them are tropical and occur in deserts, grasslands, and forests.
Category: Environment Current Affairs