Genomic study uncovers a new lace bug species on Japan's remote Ogasawara Islands
Researchers have used genome-wide DNA data to identify a new insect species on the Ogasawara Islands, a remote Japanese archipelago roughly 900 to 1,000 kilometers (560 to 620 miles) south of Tokyo.
Researchers have used genome-wide DNA data to identify a new insect species on the Ogasawara Islands, a remote Japanese archipelago roughly 900 to 1,000 kilometers (560 to 620 miles) south of Tokyo.
The short version
- The findings suggest that evolution among island insects is more intricate than appearances imply.
- This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies .
- The Ogasawara Islands are a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, celebrated for their endemic land snails and plants.
What happened
Their insects, of which some 440 endemic species are known, have received far less evolutionary attention. Analyzing 52 specimens with a genetic method known as MIG-seq, the team found that an insect previously regarded as a single species, Omoplax desecta, in fact comprised two species.
Why it matters
Populations on the Chichijima and Hahajima island groups were genetically distinct, and subtle differences in male genitalia confirmed the split.
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