Research team rediscovers two Cicada species
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 12 2024: A research team led by Dr Mayanglambam Ojitkumar of Ramjas College, Delhi University rediscovered two species of Platypleura (Hari Nongnang), a genus of Cicada, which were considered extinct, in Delhi.

The team led by Dr Ojitkumar rediscovered the two species of Cicada on September 30, at Dheerpur Wetland Park in Delhi.

The two species are Platypleura Bufo and Platypleura Octoguttata.

Both the species were never found in Delhi in the past.

For nearly one month, the team surveyed repeatedly during night by staying at restoration site of the park and detected around 110 Cicadas.

Majority of the Cicadas were found on Leucaeha and Prosopis Juliflora trees grown in the park.

Dr Ojitkumar informed The People's Chronicle that rediscovery of two rare Cicada species which were considered extinct from the globe due to climate change and diminishing wetlands is encouraging.

He said that there are more than 3,000 species of Platypleura and these species are categorised into two groups.

The first group comes out as adult every year while the second group stayed inside earth for 10-20 years and comes out as adult.

Apart from Dr Ojitkumar, the research team comprised of Dr Phougeisangbam Rolish of Fera Science Limited, UK, professor Suresh Babu of Ambedkar University, Delhi, and Jinet Majra of Punjab University, Chandigarh.

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