A major scientific study on cockroach
biodiversity in India has been released by the Zoological Survey of India
¨
A major scientific study
on cockroach biodiversity in India has been released by the Zoological Survey
of India.
¨
According to the study,
India now has 191 recorded cockroach species.
¨
More than 60% of these
species are endemic, meaning they are found only in India.
¨
The study has been
published in the taxonomy journal Zootaxa.
¨
Scientists have also
developed India’s first and largest DNA barcode reference library for
cockroaches.
¨
More than 100
high-quality DNA barcodes have been generated for accurate species
identification and classification.
¨
In March 2026, a new
species named Neoloboptera peninsularis was identified near Natchiwadi in Pune.
¨
Following this discovery,
the total number of cockroach species in India increased from 190 to 191.
¨
DNA barcoding is a
scientific technique used to identify species based on short genetic sequences.
¨
It commonly uses the
mitochondrial Cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene for species identification.
¨
The method is especially
useful in taxonomy because many species look morphologically similar.
¨
DNA barcoding helps
resolve classification challenges and ensures accurate species identification.
¨ The study involved scientists from the Pune (Western Regional Centre) and Chennai (Southern Regional Centre) of the Zoological Survey of India, along with Prof. Ramkrishna More College.
¨ This project is part of a broader effort to build a comprehensive DNA reference library for insect biodiversity in India.
