Scientists Have Discovered A New Species Of Cockroach And Named It After A Pokémon
This species of cockroach has never been formally documented before.
Singaporean entomologists have discovered a new species of cockroach at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve in Singapore
According to The Straits Times, the newest addition to the nightmare fuel that are cockroaches measures at 5mm long and possesses long antennas, wings that mimic a hood, and long slender legs.
The discovery was made by National University of Singapore (NUS) Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum entomologist and scientific officer Foo Maosheng and his co-author, Cristian C Lucañas from the UPLB Museum of Natural History in the Philippines, both of whom are self-proclaimed Pokémon enthusiasts.
In honour of their findings and their love for the anime, the entomologists named their new discovery after a seventh-generation Pokémon called Pheromosa. Its Latin name is Nocticola pheromosa, which means fond of the night.
The name is fitting for the cockroach as it bears very similar characteristics to its anime counterpart.
"Both my collaborator and I are Pokémon fans, so we thought, why not name it after a Pokémon inspired by a cockroach," Foo said.
Pheromosa the Pokémon (left) and Nocticola pheromosa the cockroach (right).
Image via @BugcatcherM (Twitter)
The new species was discovered when the entomologists collected a few male cockroach specimens between 2016 and 2017 during an insect survey
By comparing the male genitalia between specimens, Foo discovered that Nocticola pheromosa had no previous records in Singapore, indicating that this cockroach species was a new discovery.
"Since its DNA did not match any species recorded online, it does add to the suggestion that this species has not been formally documented," Foo said.
With the help of Lucañas, both entomologists dissected the insect and documented their findings on 27 February this year.
Foo, who is an avid fan of insects and Pokémon, so much so that his interests have earned him the moniker "bug catcher" among his students at NUS and other entomologists, was elated at this discovery.
Sharing with Mothership, Foo said that he felt "surreal and somewhat emotional".
"Both the adult and kid in me are cheering away. The scientific Pokémon journey has not ended for this Bug Catcher," he said.
Because this cockroach was only recently discovered and is "severely understudied", there is limited information about the insect, including where it's from.
But, here's what we know so far:
As hard it is to believe, cockroaches play an important part in the ecosystem, using bacteria present in their anatomy to breakdown woody and leafy materials, an essential step in the process of nutrient cycling. Some species are also essential pollinators in nature.
However when it comes to Nocticola pheromosa, this species lacks the bacteria that is commonly found in all cockroach species, putting into question what its role in the ecosystem is.
This new species is also only found in forests, where the first specimens were collected.
Findings also discovered that this particular genus of cockroach belongs to one of the oldest species of cave cockroach, dating all the way back to the dinosaur period.
While Nocticola pheromosa is definitely prettier than the average house cockroach, we think it's much prettier far, far, far away from us. :)
Image via @ifc/GIPHY
In September, this lady showed a cockroach who's boss when she captured it with her bare hands:
In July, this Singaporean woman had the unfortunate experience of having a cockroach crawl into her ear and die:
If you need to get over your fear of cockroaches or other creepy crawlies, VR therapy could be up your alley:
Or you could try hugging these cockroach-shaped pillows to sleep:
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