New Cicada Species Identified in Bangladesh

Researchers from Bangladesh, China and India have identified Dundubia annandalei, a cicada species, in Bangladesh for the first time. The identification was confirmed through field-collected specimens, morphological analysis and environmental data. The team also modelled the species’ potential distribution under different climate-change scenarios, finding that rainfall, temperature and elevation may influence the availability of suitable habitats. However, the study does not establish that an expansion of suitable habitat would necessarily lead to greater agricultural damage.

The research was jointly conducted by Dr Mohammad Abul Manjur Khan, a professor in the Department of Entomology at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), and Kong Wei, a researcher at Northwest A&F University in China. Indian researcher Babu Saddam and BAU postgraduate student Shahmat Jawad were directly involved in field data and specimen collection and species identification. The findings were published in the international scientific journal Insects.

Field survey collected 63 specimens

The researchers collected 63 specimens during field surveys in different parts of Bangladesh between February and March 2025. The specimens are preserved at the Entomology Department Museum at BAU. One female cicada was collected beneath a streetlight on the university campus.

The species was recorded in orchards growing mango, litchi, dragon fruit, guava, pineapple, banana, jackfruit, lemon and orange. Researchers also identified adult cicadas and their discarded exoskeletons on and around sal, bamboo, teak and jarul trees, as well as in shrubs.

Morphological analysis found that D. annandalei is generally grass-green when alive but turns brown after drying. Although it resembles Dundubia terpsichore in appearance, a distinctive feature of the male’s body is an important characteristic for identification.

Before this discovery, only Dundubia ensifera had been documented in Bangladesh from the genus Dundubia. The new record adds another species to the country’s known cicada diversity.

Rainfall emerges as a key factor

To estimate the species’ current and future distribution, the researchers used the MaxEnt species-distribution modelling approach. According to Dr Manjur Khan, the model combined recorded occurrences with rainfall, temperature, elevation and other environmental variables to identify potentially suitable habitats.

The results identified rainfall as the most influential factor in the species’ distribution. Variations in rainfall during warmer periods of the year may change the areas suitable for its survival. Elevation and temperature were also important factors.

The researchers estimated that about 861,000 square kilometres of the area assessed were currently suitable for the species. Of this, approximately 300,000 square kilometres were classified as highly suitable and 179,000 square kilometres as moderately suitable.

Under a lower global-warming scenario, the area of suitable habitat could reach about 1.752 million square kilometres by 2060 and approximately 1.94 million square kilometres by the end of the century.

Under a higher-warming scenario, suitable habitat could temporarily contract around the middle of the century before expanding more rapidly. By 2100, it could reach approximately 2.63 million square kilometres.

The researchers cautioned that these projections indicate potential environmental suitability, not a confirmed future distribution or a reliable measure of agricultural damage.

Agricultural impact remains unclear

During their immature stages, cicadas generally feed on xylem sap, which transports water and minerals through plants. Some cicada species can damage trees and crops. However, the study did not determine the extent to which D. annandalei currently affects agriculture in Bangladesh. The projected expansion of suitable habitat therefore cannot, by itself, establish that the species will cause widespread crop losses.

Dr Manjur Khan said cicadas are present in fruit orchards across Bangladesh. During summer, particularly when mangoes are ripening, their intense reproductive calls can be heard around trees. These sounds can provide an indication of their presence in mango orchards.

He noted that commercial fruit cultivation is expanding in the country’s hilly regions. According to the MaxEnt model, some areas in these regions may be suitable for the species. But further research is needed to determine its effects on commercial orchards, including whether it adversely affects horticultural crop yields or normal tree growth.

Identifying a new species is only the first step, Dr Manjur Khan said. Researchers also need to establish its distribution, life cycle, feeding habits and potential economic impact. If the species is proven to cause economically significant damage, effective management strategies will need to be developed.

He added that long-term field research is essential to assess potential agricultural risks. Collaboration among public and private institutions and funding agencies is needed to establish the species’ presence, measure any damage and identify appropriate management methods in commercial fruit orchards, particularly in hilly areas.

The researchers said sustained monitoring, supported by adequate research funding, could provide reliable evidence about the species’ environmental distribution and actual agricultural impact. Such evidence would help authorities and growers develop timely preventive measures if an economic threat is established.

//DBTech/Arafat Hossain/SMP/MIST//