Guwahati: Researchers at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) have reported three new species of dung beetle from Assam and Karnataka.
The three new species are Onitis bhomorensis (from Assam) and Onitis kethai and Onitis visthara (from Karnataka). These species were described in a study by Seena Narayanan Karimbumkara and Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan of ATREE and published in the European Journal of Taxonomy.
The beetles are crucial for nutrient cycling and maintaining ecosystem health by aiding in the decomposition of dung. The research, based on specimens collected over two decades, contributes to the growing understanding of India’s insect biodiversity and emphasizes the need for conservation efforts in these ecologically fragile areas.
ATREE researchers also reported the presence of Onitis bordati, previously unknown in the Indian subcontinent, discovered in the forests of Meghalaya. This expands the known range of the species, marking its first documentation in India.
“Onitis bordati was reported for the first time from India in a bamboo forest in Meghalaya’s Nongkhyllem area. So far this species was known from Vietnam and Thailand,” said Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan, a senior fellow of ATREE.
“These findings emphasize the importance of preserving habitats in northeastern India, as we are still uncovering species that play critical roles in their ecosystems,” said Dr Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan, the senior author of the paper.
“The sand banks, or saporis, of the Brahmaputra River floodplains are some of the most overlooked yet biologically rich ecosystems in India,” said Dr Seena Karimbumkara.
“These dynamic habitats host a variety of species, including the newly discovered Onitis bhomorensis, and play a vital role in flood control and soil fertility. However, increasing developmental pressures and encroachment threaten their existence,” he said.
Dung beetles play an essential role in nutrient cycling, soil aeration, and seed dispersal, making them integral to maintaining healthy ecosystems. The discovery of new species highlights the biological richness of India’s northeastern region, which is already recognized as a biodiversity hotspot.
Before this discovery, only 176 species of Onitis had been reported globally. All species of this genus are burrowers, burying cattle dung beneath the dung pat to provide food for their larvae.