Recently, the journalist learned from the Administration Bureau of the Hubei Nanhe National Nature Reserve that the fifth round of the insect diversity survey has finished, and the number of species of insects in the Hubei Nanhe National Nature Reserve has reached 1350.

This survey was conducted by an expert group from the Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute (ENCI) of the Chinese Academy of Forestry. Following 10 scouting paths, those experts visited places like the Qinglong Mountain Village and the Yuping Village in the Zhaowan country. They set up 2 light lure points, 3 malaise traps, and 20 Pasteur jars to collect over 1,000 insect samples, including Anomala corpulenta Motschulsky, Marumba maacki Bremer, callambulyx tatarinovi Bremer et Grey, Oxyambulyx ochracea Butler, Sinna extrema, Eligma narcissus, Eurostus validus Dallas, and Dysdercus cingulatus.

“This Polyphylla laticollis Lewis is the biggest insect of Coleoptera we have collected,” Dr. Wang Zheng from the ENCI said. Moreover, Argynnis hyperbius is a local dominant species of Nymphalidae Rafinesque characterized by a high ornamental value.

Insects are the most abundant form of animal life on the planet. There are over one million species worldwide, which are very important for the entire ecological system.

“The survey aims to recognize the harmful insects and insects that should be protected to know the present status and evolution process of the biodiversity of the reserve to enhance our abilities to cope with different disasters scientifically,” Fang Jiaxing, a research associate from the ENCI, said.

Going across Gucheng County, the Nanhe River, nourishing all things, develops a national-level natural reserve where vegetation is well preserved, the forest coverage rate is high, and the biodiversity is rich. The superior geographical environment and mountain and water resources provide habitats and breeding grounds for numerous rare and endangered insects. This reserve has become a natural resource treasure of Northern subtropical insects.

“Since the beginning of the insect diversity survey conducted in 2020, we have gotten over 5,000 samples and have newly discovered 47 insects like Cheirotonus jansoni and Dendrolimus houi Lajonquiere. On these grounds, we have promptly revised the insect directory,” Deng Jie, a principal of the Administration Bureau of the Hubei Nanhe National Nature Reserve, said. According to incomplete statistics, the number of species of insects in the reserve has reached 1350, and researchers are continuously finding new insects.