New beetle species discovered at Kenting National Park
墾丁昆蟲王國　再添新成員

New insect species have once again been discovered in Taiwan. Kenting National Park Headquarters announced on Wednesday last week that three darkling beetles — Cryphaeus lanae, Androsus taiwanus, Paramisolampidius kentingensis — were discovered at the park along with another beetle species — Nesocaedius minimus — that was found in Taiwan for the first time. The park administration says that around 10 new species have been found in Taiwan since 1994, and that they expect another five to seven species to be announced by the end of the year.

Park officials said that darkling beetles are usually found in rotting wood, and that they play an important role in the food chain at both larval and adult stages because they feed on the fungi in rotting wood.

(Liberty Times, Translated by Kyle Jeffcoat)

台灣再發現昆蟲世界新種，墾丁國家公園管理處上週三發表三種擬步行蟲世界新種包括毛角刺擬步行蟲、臺灣擬迴木蟲及墾丁瓢擬步行蟲，以及一種台灣新紀錄種小俏擬步行蟲。墾管處表示，自一九九四年至今已發現近十種世界新種，預計年底可能還有五至七種世界新種發表。

墾管處指出，擬步行蟲常可於腐朽的木頭中發現，成蟲及幼蟲皆以生長於朽木上的真菌為食，在生態系的營養循環上扮演重要角色。

（自由時報記者徐義平）