Luckily, when it comes to insect pests the worst we have to deal with here in London is probably wasps, or the occasional bed bug. However, a new species of insect has recently been discovered in China that actually makes us thankful for our run of the mill nuisances.
Experts have discovered a new species of Giant Dobsonfly in southern China which is being touted as the largest aquatic insect in the world. The insect itself makes a vicious looking pest, with a chunky black body, sinister looking teeth and fearsome pincers.
There are over 220 different species of Dobson fly that are found all over the world, but some specimens of this gargantuan discovery have been measured with wingspans of 21cm, making it the biggest known aquatic insect that can fly.
Commenting on the discovery, Bec Crew from Scientific American said, “Just as this new find is so far pretty mysterious, members of Megaloptera are also fairly poorly known. As larvae, they spend all of their time in the water, only venturing out once it’s time to pupate and become adults. While they’re usually found in clean, clear streams, rivers, swamps, ponds and lakes, they’re also perfectly capable of sustaining themselves in muddy and polluted water, which makes them extra hard to spot.”
Though details on this mysterious insect are still sketchy at best, a number of scientific teams have expressed an interest in researching the Giant Dobson fly. The most striking feature of this new discovery is definitely the impressive looking mandibles. Though they may look intimidating, they are actually used for mating, rather than eating and subduing prey.
Also, it is theorised that the insect only uses its wings for about a week, the rest of the time it spends under rocks or living in ponds or rivers, using specialised gills to filter oxygen from the water. This explains why they have been so elusive up until now and probably comes as welcoming news to locals, as the sight of one of these beasts flying around is sure to be terrifying!
Interestingly, the scientists involved in studying this new species have found that it favours clean water over polluted, as very high or very low pH levels drive the insects away. This means that this nightmarish looking creature can actually be a natural gauge of water cleanliness in the areas they are found.
Though the majority of pests found in the UK are not as intimidating or daunting as the Giant Dobson fly, they are no less annoying and frustrating. So, if you live in or around Londonand are in need of a pest control service, then get in touch with Empire Pest Control today! We can guarantee that we will take care of your infestation as quickly and efficiently as possible.
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