Belize - Belize News - Channel5Belize.com - Great Belize Productions - Belize Breaking News
Home » Environment » New species of grasshopper-like insect discovered in Toledo
Feb 10, 2012

New species of grasshopper-like insect discovered in Toledo

There is a positive story to report tonight. Scientists at the University of Illinois, USA have discovered a new species of tiny, grasshopper-like insect in the Toledo district.  The find was made public today by Doctor Sam Heads and Doctor Steve Taylor who co-authored a paper published today in the journal ZooKeys. The new species, Ripipteryx mopana, was named to honor the Maya Mopan population. The insect is less than five millimeters long.  It is a tiny, black, white and orange colored, grasshopper-like insect with oversized hind legs. Very little is known about its biology.


Viewers please note: This Internet newscast is a verbatim transcript of our evening television newscast. Where speakers use Kriol, we attempt to faithfully reproduce the quotes using a standard spelling system.

Advertise Here

2 Responses for “New species of grasshopper-like insect discovered in Toledo”

  1. ME says:

    picture?????????????

  2. landi says:

    I remember the Garifuna people fighting tooth and nail to change the name of the bat that was named after them. I do not know the result of this battle. Now again another case and the University of Illinois is naming an insect after the Mopan Maya population. Are they taking offense as the Garifuna did What is the Maya Alliance saying. I am not sure whether it is out of respect or disrespect that the naming of this grass hopper was done after the Mopan Maya Population. I need to hear something.

Comments are closed