New Diplura Species Discovered in Eastern Himalayas

Category : National Published on: February 19 2026

Share on facebook

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of Diplura, “Lepidocampa sikkimensis,” in the eastern Himalayas, marking a major milestone in Indian entomology. This wingless, soil-dwelling micro-arthropod represents the first Diplura species formally described by an Indian research team after nearly five decades of limited study.
The research, led by Dr. Surajit Kar and colleagues, recorded specimens near Ravangla, Sikkim, and confirmed their presence in Kurseong, showing a wider Himalayan distribution. Diplurans are primitive hexapods, blind soil organisms that contribute to nutrient cycling and soil health. The study also rediscovered the rare subspecies “Lepidocampa juradii bengalensis” and generated DNA barcode data for the first time, combining classical taxonomy with modern molecular methods.