Myiophanes kempi-Rare Assassin Bug Rediscovered in Andaman Caves

Why in the News

• Scientists have rediscovered a rare thread-legged assassin bug, Myiophanes kempi, in limestone caves of the Andaman Islands.
• The species was first described in 1924 from Siju Cave in the Garo Hills and had not been recorded for nearly 100 years.

Key Points

• The species was originally described by British entomologist William Edward China in 1924.
• Two specimens collected in 2019 from caves in the Andaman Islands were later identified as Myiophanes kempi.
• The findings were published in the journal Subterranean Biology.
• The rediscovery occurred over 1,000 km southeast of the original discovery site.
• The species was not found during a 2019 survey of Siju Cave, making the new discovery particularly significant.

About the Species

• Taxonomy: Belongs to the Reduviidae (assassin bug) family.
• Habitat:
  • Lives in dark limestone cave ecosystems (subterranean habitats).
  • Completes its entire life cycle in darkness.
• Predatory Adaptations:
  • Has a slender body and extremely long legs.
  • Uses raptorial forelegs to capture small arthropods living in caves.

Significance

• Highlights the rich but poorly explored biodiversity of subterranean ecosystems in the Andaman Islands.
• Suggests possible undiscovered cave-adapted species in India’s island ecosystems.
• Important for biodiversity documentation and conservation of cave habitats.

Source: Subterranean Biology