"How many insect species are there in Guangdong?" The long-awaited answer has finally been unveiled. The recently released "Guangdong Insect Catalog" documents a total of 12,093 species belonging to 3,198 genera, 475 families, and 34 orders of insects found in Guangdong Province. This comprehensive catalog, containing species data up to the end of 2021, establishes Guangdong as the province with the highest recorded insect diversity in China. According to the Forestry Administration of Guangdong Province, this marks the first systematic compilation of insect species in the region, standing as the most comprehensive insect catalog to date for the province.
As the most diverse and numerous group of animals, insects occupy various trophic levels in the food web, crucially contributing to the maintenance of ecosystem diversity and stability. Guangdong Province, situated south of the Nanling Mountains and east of the Yungui Plateau, is profoundly influenced by the oceanic climate and the East Asian monsoon. This geographical positioning renders it a transitional zone between subtropical and tropical regions, characterized by a wealth of endemic species. Consequently, Guangdong has become a global biodiversity hotspot.
"The insect species catalog serves as a fundamental dataset indicating the richness of biodiversity resources in a country or region. The compilation and publication of this catalog ("Guangdong Insect Catalog") aim to address the lack of clarity regarding insect resources in Guangdong Province, thereby effectively promoting biodiversity conservation, ecological security, and biosecurity initiatives in our province," explained a representative from the Forestry Administration of Guangdong Province. The Catalog was compiled by the Forestry Administration of Guangdong Province and the Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with several research institutions within the province. It systematically collects and organizes published data on Guangdong's insect species, reviewed by experts in entomological taxonomy of various insect groups. The compilation took two years and was published by the Guangdong Science and Technology Press at the end of 2023.
The "Guangdong Insect Catalog" stands as a comprehensive tool for the study of insects. It follows the latest classification system of Hexapoda, encompassing Protura, Collembola, Diplura, and Insecta, and lists orders, families, genera, and species, providing detailed information on their respective distribution areas. Moreover, the Catalog includes a list of five orders, nine families, and 13 species of insects that enjoy national and provincial protection statuses in Guangdong, such as the Teinopalpus aureus and the Cheirotonus jansoni.
The insect species catalog holds both scientific and practical significance for the development and utilization of insect resources and for the maintenance of ecological security and restoration efforts. The representative from the Forestry Administration of Guangdong Province stated that by utilizing this catalog, Guangdong will further explore its insect resources. Additionally, it will continue to compile the "Guangdong Chronicles of Insects" series and will promote research on insect diversity and ecological environment protection in the Nanling Mountains and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, contributing to the ecological construction of a green and beautiful Guangdong.
Source | Yangcheng Evening News
