Surreal illustration of two new beetle species discovered in Hong Kong, highlighting the city's hidden biodiversity.

Unveiling Hong Kong's Hidden Biodiversity: Two New Beetle Species Discovered

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Lena Voss in Science & Nature August 2025 • 5 min read.

"Unexpected Discoveries in the Urban Jungle: Uncovering new Laena beetle species in Hong Kong reveals the area's hidden ecological richness."


For entomologists, the world is full of surprises, especially when exploring regions thought to be well-documented. A recent discovery has shed light on the hidden biodiversity of Hong Kong, revealing two new species of beetles from the genus Laena. This genus, part of the Tenebrionidae family (commonly known as darkling beetles), is incredibly diverse, especially in China. However, its presence in Hong Kong was previously unconfirmed.

The Laena genus is particularly rich in species across China, with approximately 100 known species inhabiting various provinces, excluding Taiwan. These beetles, typically flightless, tend to have limited distribution ranges, thriving in the soil of mature forests, particularly in Sichuan and Yunnan. While a single species, Laena ovipennis, was once mistakenly attributed to Hong Kong, it was later found to originate from the Zhejiang province near Shanghai. This new finding marks the first official record of the Laena genus in Hong Kong.

This groundbreaking discovery was made possible by recent collecting efforts in Hong Kong, leading to the identification of Laena hongkongica sp. n. and Laena walkeri sp. n.. These species present a unique characteristic within the genus – significant body length variation, an unusual trait that sets them apart from their counterparts. This article delves into the fascinating details of these newly discovered species, their unique features, and the implications for understanding biodiversity in urban environments.

Meet the New Species: Laena hongkongica and Laena walkeri

Surreal illustration of two new beetle species discovered in Hong Kong, highlighting the city's hidden biodiversity.

Laena hongkongica is distinguished by its unique femoral spines. The anterior femora lack spines, while the middle and posterior femora each possess spines. This characteristic is unique among Chinese Laena species. Other distinctive features include the pronotum shape, featuring nearly acute posterior corners, and the specific dorsal punctuation and setation patterns. The body length ranges from 4.5 to 9.0 mm.

Laena walkeri, named in honor of John James Walker, who collected in Hong Kong, exhibits a body length of 3.0-5.5 mm. This species shares similarities with Laena guangxica from Guangxi, particularly in body shape, dorsal punctuation, setation, and unarmed femora. However, key differences include the pronotal lateral margins and the shape of the aedeagal apicale. All femora are without teeth or spines. In some specimens, middle and posterior femora have a pair of opposite small granula.

Key features of the new beetle species:
  • Laena hongkongica: Unique femoral spine pattern (middle and posterior femora only).
  • Laena walkeri: All femora without teeth; resembles Laena guangxica.
  • Both species show unusual body length variation within the Laena genus.
  • Collected in leaf litter from wooded areas above 100m altitude.
The discovery of these new species prompts a reconsideration of Hong Kong's ecological landscape. The researchers emphasize that these beetles were found in leaf litter within wooded areas above 100 meters in altitude. The beetles were found using winkler extractors or pitfall traps. This indicates the significance of preserving these habitats to support local biodiversity. Finding two new species in an area often perceived as urbanized underscores the potential for further discoveries in unexpected locations. The unique characteristics of Laena hongkongica and Laena walkeri contribute valuable data to the understanding of the Laena genus and its distribution. Further investigation into their ecological roles and genetic makeup could provide even greater insights into their evolutionary history and adaptation to the Hong Kong environment.

Implications and Future Research

The discovery of Laena hongkongica and Laena walkeri highlights the importance of continued biodiversity research, even in urbanized areas. These findings challenge preconceived notions about species distribution and emphasize the need for conservation efforts to protect vulnerable habitats. Further research could explore the genetic relationships between these new species and other members of the Laena genus, providing a deeper understanding of their evolutionary history. Additionally, investigating the ecological roles of these beetles within the Hong Kong ecosystem could reveal valuable insights into the intricate web of life in this unique environment.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.11646/zootaxa.4344.1.10, Alternate LINK

Title: Two New Species Of The Genus Laena Dejean (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Lagriinae) From Hong Kong

Subject: Animal Science and Zoology

Journal: Zootaxa

Publisher: Magnolia Press

Authors: Wolfgang Schawaller, Paul Aston

Published: 2017-11-06

Everything You Need To Know

1

Why is the discovery of *Laena hongkongica* and *Laena walkeri* so important for understanding Hong Kong's biodiversity?

The discovery of *Laena hongkongica* and *Laena walkeri* is significant because it marks the first official record of the *Laena* genus in Hong Kong. Previously, only a misidentified species, *Laena ovipennis* (actually from Zhejiang province), was associated with the region. This finding challenges assumptions about biodiversity in urban environments and highlights the potential for uncovering new species even in well-documented areas.

2

What are the key distinguishing features that differentiate *Laena hongkongica* and *Laena walkeri* from other species within the *Laena* genus?

*Laena hongkongica* is distinguished by having spines on its middle and posterior femora, but not on its anterior femora. Other distinctive features include its pronotum shape, nearly acute posterior corners, and specific dorsal punctuation and setation patterns. *Laena walkeri* does not have spines or teeth on any of its femora. *Laena walkeri* shares similarities with *Laena guangxica* from Guangxi, especially in body shape and dorsal features, but differs in the pronotal lateral margins and aedeagal apicale shape. Both species exhibit unusual body length variation within the *Laena* genus.

3

Where were *Laena hongkongica* and *Laena walkeri* discovered, and what does this tell us about their preferred habitat?

The two new species, *Laena hongkongica* and *Laena walkeri*, were discovered in leaf litter within wooded areas above 100 meters in altitude in Hong Kong. Researchers used winkler extractors and pitfall traps to collect the specimens. This indicates that these beetle species thrive in mature forest environments, aligning with the typical habitat preferences observed in other *Laena* species found in regions like Sichuan and Yunnan.

4

What are the broader implications of finding new beetle species like *Laena hongkongica* and *Laena walkeri* in an urban environment, and what future research directions might these discoveries inspire?

These findings highlight the importance of ongoing biodiversity research, even in urbanized settings like Hong Kong. The discovery of *Laena hongkongica* and *Laena walkeri* suggests that other undiscovered species may exist in similar habitats. Future research directions include investigating the genetic relationships between these new species and other *Laena* beetles, as well as examining their ecological roles within the Hong Kong ecosystem. Conservation efforts should prioritize protecting the habitats where these beetles were found to ensure the survival of these and other potentially undiscovered species.

5

Can you describe the *Laena* genus, its relation to the Tenebrionidae family, and its known distribution, especially in the context of these new discoveries in Hong Kong?

The *Laena* genus belongs to the Tenebrionidae family, commonly known as darkling beetles. This genus is particularly diverse in China. The two new species, *Laena hongkongica* and *Laena walkeri*, are flightless beetles and have limited distribution ranges. These beetles typically inhabit the soil of mature forests. While approximately 100 known species of the *Laena* genus inhabit various provinces, excluding Taiwan, the recent discovery of *Laena hongkongica* and *Laena walkeri* marks the first official record of the *Laena* genus in Hong Kong.

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