Hyderabad: Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Hyderabad, in collaboration with VHNSN College and Madurai Kamaraj University, have recorded two rare aquatic backswimmers, or water bugs, for the first time in the Indian subcontinent.The two species—Enithares metallica and Enithares intricata—were collected from freshwater habitats in the Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve and the Amrabad Tiger Reserve. Previously, these species had only been reported from Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.The findings, published in the Journal of Diversity Studies, highlight the largely understudied freshwater insect diversity of the Eastern Ghats. According to ZSI, the discovery extends the known biogeographical range of both species within the Oriental region.Backswimmers are aquatic Hemipteran insects that swim upside down in freshwater ecosystems. They are natural predators of mosquito larvae and other aquatic invertebrates and serve as important indicators of freshwater ecosystem health.DNA Analysis Confirms Species IdentityThe research team adopted an integrative taxonomic approach, combining classical morphology, DNA barcoding, morphometric analysis, phylogenetic reconstruction, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to identify the species.“The taxonomic identity of the species was confirmed through morphological characters and mitochondrial COI gene sequences,” said Dr Deepa Jaiswal, scientist E and officer-in-charge at ZSI.The analyses revealed clear genetic and morphometric distinctions between the examined species. According to ZSI, this study is among the first in India to comprehensively apply molecular, morphometric, and statistical techniques to the taxonomy of aquatic Hemipteran insects.ZSI said the discovery underscores the ecological and conservation significance of the Eastern Ghats, where freshwater insect diversity remains insufficiently explored. Researchers believe continued systematic surveys and integrative taxonomic studies could reveal many more undocumented species.“The study contributes significantly to aquatic insect taxonomy, freshwater biodiversity research, and conservation science, while reinforcing the urgent need to protect the fragile freshwater ecosystems of the Eastern Ghats for future generations,”” said Dr Dhriti Banerjee, director, ZSI.
