‘Large’ colorful creature — last seen 85 years ago — rediscovered. See ‘rare’ find

Moira Ritter
·2 min read
16

While on a family trip in Myanmar, Cho Thandar spotted a “curious” creature feeding on a citrus plant. Thandar snapped an iPhone photo of the animal.

Just a month after Thandar’s encounter with the bug in Nyaung-U in November 2022, Mar Lar Kyaw was studying sesame plants in Yenangyaung and spotted the same creature.

Both Kyaw and Thandar both uploaded their photos to a Facebook group titled Native Species Conservation & Identification in Myanmar.

But members of the Facebook group were unable to identify the colorful critter. That’s when insect expert Josip Skejo was contacted, researchers said in a new study published Feb. 7 in the journal Zootaxa.

Kyaw and Thandar had actually “unintentionally” rediscovered a species of grasshopper not seen in 85 years: Burmorthacris subaptera, according to scientists.

Researchers said the species has a “large, bulky body” and “micro wings.” Photo by Cho Thandar via Kavee Sirichantakul and Zootaxa
Researchers said the species has a “large, bulky body” and “micro wings.” Photo by Cho Thandar via Kavee Sirichantakul and Zootaxa

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B. subaptera was identified as a species in 1964 when three researchers found a male and female specimen in a collection at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, experts said. The specimens had been collected in 1937 in Yenangyaung but were not identified until they were found in 1964.

Since collecting the first two specimens, researchers had never seen the grasshopper again, according to the study.

Now, thanks to Kyaw and Thandar’s encounters, scientists are working to learn more about the “rare” species.

Experts said the rediscovered species is distinguished by its “micro wings, large bulky body, and unique coloration.” Originally, it was only known from Yenangyuang, but Thandar’s discovery indicates that it has a wider range.

The grasshoppers were seen feeding on citrus leaves and sesame leaves, according to researchers.

Photos show a mating pair of grasshoppers atop a sesame plant.

A pair of grasshoppers were seen mating on a sesame plant, scientists said. Photo by Mar Lar Kyaw via Kavee Sirichantakul and Zootaxa
A pair of grasshoppers were seen mating on a sesame plant, scientists said. Photo by Mar Lar Kyaw via Kavee Sirichantakul and Zootaxa

Scientists said they do not have enough data to conclude the species’ full diet yet. More research is needed to learn more about the elusive species, according to the study.

Yenangyuang and Nyaung-U are in midwestern Myanmar. Nyaung-U is about 60 miles north of Yenangyuang.

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