New Discovery

In 2017, a new katydid species, Eulophophyllum kirki, was discovered in 2017.

THE discovery was made by George Beccaloni, a zoologist in London’s Natural History Museum. In 2013, a friend showed him photographs of a brilliantly-coloured katydid that he couldn’t identify. Katydids are also known as bush crickets and are named for their distinctive calls.

Beccaloni passed the pictures on to an Asian katydid expert, Sigfrid Ingrisch. Scientists usually don’t depend only on photographs to identify new species. They need a live or dead specimen.

However, in this case, both were certain that it was a new species. The veins in its wings were clearly visible and they were quite unlike those of other katydid species. Wing veins are often used to tell katydids apart.

The new katydid looks like a leaf and is native to northern Borneo. Males are a uniform green while females sport bright red and pink colours. The female’s pink backside is lined with veins that resemble those of leaves growing on trees in its environment. Not only are the veins different, the katydids also have leaf-like lobes on the legs. About 4 cm long, the insects blend in effortlessly with their surroundings.

Since it was discovered from a picture (the photographer was not allowed to collect a live specimen) the scientists involved with the study hope the publicity would help uncover a live specimen soon as the habitat is under threat from logging and cultivation.