New miniature grasshopper-like insect is first member of its family from Belize

The tiny insect from the Toledo district is named in honour of the Mopan people

2012-02-16

(Press-News.org) Scientists at the University of Illinois, USA have discovered a new species of tiny, grasshopper-like insect in the tropical rainforests of the Toledo District in southern Belize. Dr Sam Heads and Dr Steve Taylor co-authored a paper, published in the open access journal ZooKeys, documenting the discovery and naming the new species Ripipteryx mopana. The name commemorates the Mopan people – a Mayan group, native to the region.

"Belize is famous for its biodiversity, although very little is known about the insect fauna of the southern part of the country. This is particularly true of the Orthoptera – the grasshoppers, crickets and katydids" said entomologist and lead author on the paper, Dr Sam Heads. "The new insect is the first representative of it's family ever to be found in Belize. Given the amount of high quality habitats in the region, it isn't really surprising that new species still await discovery, especially in the less -explored areas" added Dr Heads.

Just less than 5 mm long, the insect is a tiny, black, white and orange coloured, grasshopper-like species that uses its large jumping hind legs to escape predators.

"Very little is known about the biology of this genus and its closest relatives" said Heads, who specializes in the study of orthopteran insects. "The group as a whole is rather poorly studied and even though we continue to document new species, we still have a long way to go".

INFORMATION:

Original source: Heads SW, Taylor SJ (2012) A new species of Ripipteryx from Belize with a key to the species of the Scrofulosa Group (Orthoptera, Ripipterygidae). ZooKeys 169: 1-9. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.169.2531

Posted by Pensoft Publishers.

[Attachments] See images for this press release:

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Research highlights urgent need to tackle low number of organ donors from BME communities

2012-02-16

There is an urgent need to increase the number of organ donors from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups in countries with a strong tradition of immigration, such as the UK, USA, Canada and the Netherlands, in order to tackle inequalities in access and waiting times. That is the key finding of a research paper on ethnicity and transplants, published by the Journal of Renal Care in a free online supplement that includes 15 studies on different aspects of diabetes and kidney disease. "BME groups are disproportionately affected by kidney problems for a number of ...

Green spaces reduce stress levels of jobless, study shows

2012-02-16

Stress levels of unemployed people are linked more to their surroundings than their age, gender, disposable income, and degree of deprivation, a study shows. The presence of parks and woodland in economically deprived areas may help people cope better with job losses, post traumatic stress disorder, chronic fatigue and anxiety, researchers say. They found that people's stress levels are directly related to the amount of green space in their area – the more green space, the less stressed a person is likely to be. Researchers measured stress by taking saliva samples ...

Low-carbon technologies 'no quick-fix', say researchers

2012-02-16

A drastic switch to low carbon-emitting technologies, such as wind and hydroelectric power, may not yield a reduction in global warming until the latter part of this century, research published today suggests. Furthermore, it states that technologies that offer only modest reductions in greenhouse gases, such as the use of natural gas and perhaps carbon capture and storage, cannot substantially reduce climate risk in the next 100 years. The study, published today, Thursday 16 February, in IOP Publishing's journal Environmental Research Letters, claims that the rapid ...

Stretching helices help keep muscles together

2012-02-16

VIDEO: When myomesin is pulled, as it is when muscles contract and extend, its helices (green) unfold. This strategy, discovered by scientists at EMBL Hamburg, enables the elastic part of the... Click here for more information. In this video, a protein called myomesin does its impression of Mr. Fantastic, the leader of the Fantastic Four of comic book fame, who performed incredible feats by stretching his body. Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in ...

New molecule discovered in fight against allergy

2012-02-16

Scientists at The University of Nottingham have discovered a new molecule that could offer the hope of new treatments for people allergic to the house dust mite. The team of immunologists led by Dr Amir Ghaem-Maghami and Professor Farouk Shakib in the University's School of Molecular Medical Sciences have identified the molecule DC-SIGN which appears to play a role in damping down the body's allergic response to the house dust mite . The molecule can be found on the surface of the immune cells which play a key role in the recognition of a major allergen from house dust ...

New method makes it easier to treat prostate and pancreatic cancer

2012-02-16

Laser light in combination with certain drugs – known as photodynamic therapy – can destroy cancer tumours, but is today used mostly to cure skin cancer. The reason that internal tumours are not treated with the method is that the technology does not exist to check that the precise amount of light is administered. However, software developed by researchers in atomic physics at Lund University in Sweden looks like being able to solve the problem. "I think we are about to see a real breakthrough, both for us and for other research groups around the world who conduct research ...

Toyota recalls made no dent on their brand

2012-02-16

A study from North Carolina State University shows that Toyota's safety-related recalls that began in 2009 made little to no impact on how consumers perceived the brand. "These findings highlight the importance of establishing and maintaining a reputation for quality," says Dr. Robert Hammond, an assistant professor of economics at NC State and lead author of a paper describing the study. "Not only will it help you sell cars in the first place, but it will help you weather public scrutiny in the event of a recall." Hammond launched the study because he wanted to see ...

Mill Creek Dentist Encourages Patients to Leave Reviews on Google

2012-02-16

Drs. Chad Slocum and Sara Lundgaard, Mill Creek dentists, encourage patients to visit their Google places page to write a review of their experience with Penny Creek Family and Cosmetic Dentistry. A husband and wife dental team, Drs. Slocum and Lundgaard, dentists in Mill Creek, WA, value their patients' opinions and urge them to leave their reviews to further expand the practice's services and to provide other patients with confidence for their next appointment. "We are proud to utilize proven techniques and procedures with state-of-the-art technology to enable ...

New regulations fail to make TV food adverts healthier for children

2012-02-16

Despite new regulations restricting UK TV advertisements for food, children are still exposed to the same level of advertising for junk foods which are high in fat, salt and sugar, researchers have found. Unexpectedly, academics at Newcastle University also found that since the new restrictions were introduced five years ago, viewers of all ages are seeing many more adverts for unhealthy foods. In work funded by National Prevention Research Initiative and published today in PLoS ONE, the team describe how they examined the nutritional content of TV ads 6 months before ...

Cosmetic Dentist in Fort Lauderdale Thanks His Patients for Continual Dedication and Support

2012-02-16

For 2011, Dr. Robert Stanton, cosmetic dentist in Fort Lauderdale, is pleased to announce that Stanton Dental Excellence was the highest rated dental practice in Broward County. With help from his loyal and devoted patients, Dr. Stanton is excited that his patients have been so supportive in Stanton Dental Excellence, allowing them to provide exceptional care in the Fort Lauderdale, FL area. "It is always reassuring when your patients share their dental experiences with their friends and family. Thanks to the referrals of all of our loyal and devoted patients, ...

AI risks overwriting history and the skills of historians have never been more important, leading academic outlines in new paper

The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology: Higher doses of semaglutide can safely enhance weight loss and improve health for adults living with obesity, two new clinical trials confirm

New miniature grasshopper-like insect is first member of its family from Belize

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: