New Insect Species Discovered in Armenia Unknown to Science Until Now

The Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) has consistently emphasized the importance of utilizing all possible opportunities for the development of science in Armenia. Today, the significance of scientific advancement in Armenia has become even more apparent, and any efforts made in this direction are commendable.

In the spring of 2020, FPWC hosted a group of scientists from the Institute for Ecosystem Research in Germany, who conducted a study on the diversity of insects present in the region. The scope of interest for the scientists was the diversity of invertebrate animals, particularly beetles, butterflies, and other insects found in the territory of the Caucasus Biodiversity Sanctuary (CWR).

As a result of their fieldwork, the scientists discovered an insect species that had previously been unknown to science, not only at the level of Armenia but also globally. Recently, a scientific article has also been published regarding this valuable find, where the authors detail their experience and the work they carried out.

Initially, the preservation state of the specimen indicated that it closely resembles the appearance of D. kondarella and D. gaalhaszlerae. However, further differential diagnosis of the organs, as well as DNA barcoding, revealed that the species is a previously unknown specimen to science.

A single female specimen of the insect was collected by scientists H. Rovecki and N. Savenkov from the Urtsadzor community of Ararat Province. The insect has been named in honor of the village of Urtsadzor, receiving the name Depressaria urtsadzorensis.