ZSI Scientists Discover New Cockroach Species ‘Neoloboptera peninsularis‘ in Maharashtra
In March 2026, scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered a new species of cockroach, named ‘Neoloboptera peninsularis’, in the agricultural areas of the Deccan Peninsula, specifically in Nathachiwadi, Pune (Maharashtra).
In March 2026, scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered a new species of cockroach, named ‘Neoloboptera peninsularis’, in the agricultural areas of the Deccan Peninsula, specifically in Nathachiwadi, Pune (Maharashtra).
- The discovery was published in a scientific journal ‘Records of ZSI’.
About Neoloboptera peninsularis:
Naming: The newly discovered cockroach species was named after Peninsular India.
Method: The study used integrative taxonomy, combining morphological analysis, genitalic study, Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) barcoding, and phylogenetic analysis, marking it as the first DNA-based cockroach identification in India.
Features: The species, belonging to the genus Neoloboptera, features a glossy yellowish-brown body, fully developed wings, asymmetrical cerci, and a distinctive whip-like male genital structure.
Records: It is the third species of the genus Neoloboptera recorded in India , raising the total cockroach species count to 190, about 3.8% of global cockroach diversity, and confirming it as endemic to India.
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