New grasshopper species identified with first 3D scan
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An international team of researchers identified a new species of pygmy grasshopper, Phelene reinschmidti, from a specimen collected in Ecuador’s Sucumbíos Province in 1993.
The insect measures just over nine millimetres long and is uniformly brown, distinguishing it from a related species found in French Guiana. Researchers named the species to honor Professor Matthias Reinschmidt for his conservation work. To document the new species, the team used synchrotron X-ray microtomography, creating the first detailed 3D scan of a pygmy grasshopper.
This technology allows scientists to study fragile specimens without risking damage and enables remote access to data. The researchers reconstructed the scan into an interactive model, preserving key characteristics for taxonomic study. This 3D scan offers new insights into the evolutionary relationships of the Lophotettiginae subfamily of grasshoppers, suggesting a close link to the Metrodorinae subfamily.
The study also proposes that Lophotettiginae, Metrodorinae, and a group of African grasshoppers may share a common ancestor, potentially tracing back to the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. While much remains unknown about the ecology of Phelene reinschmidti, the researchers hope that increased digitization of museum collections and the use of artificial intelligence will accelerate the discovery and cataloguing of Earth’s biodiversity.
