New Parthenogenetic Cockroach Discovered in U.S. and Austria by researchers at MSU
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EmailMSU Entomologists identified a new species of cockroach that was previously undescribed. The preserved specimen are now housed in the Albert J. Cook Arthropod Research Collection at MSU.
A previously undescribed species of Nocticolid cockroach has been found in Florida and identified for the first time by researchers at Michigan State University (MSU).
The study was recently published by MSU Entomology graduate student Junkai Wang and advisor Anthony Cognato who both took the lead in describing this new species, which they have named Nocticola vagus.
Mostly found in Africa and Asia, the discovery of this species marks the first Nocticolidae species reported in the Western Hemisphere. The researchers also identified specimens in the exotic pet trade from Malaysia and in a zoo greenhouse in Vienna, Austria. Species in the genus Nocticolidae are not considered pests. Of the more than 4600 known species of cockroaches, only about 30 are of pest concern.
One of the defining traits of this new species is that it is parthenogenetic, meaning females can reproduce without fertilization from males. This is the first recorded instance of this trait in Nocticolidae. Researchers believe the species likely spread through the soil of potted plants, and that asexual reproduction enabled it to establish a population far from its native range.
To identify this new species, researchers looked at both the morphology, the physical characteristics, and DNA of the collected specimens and compared them to other known Nocticola species. The collected specimens showed significant divergence in the COI gene, a segment of mitochondrial DNA often used in species identification, supporting its classification as a new species.
Looking further, researchers found that the DNA of the Florida and exotic pet specimens was identical but differed slightly from the Austrian specimens. To understand this difference, they used the DNA to build two evolutionary trees showing the most likely relationships between the specimens. Researchers concluded that the three specimens formed a monophyletic group, meaning they all evolved from one common ancestor.
Preserved specimens from each source are now housed in the A.J. Cook Arthropod Research Collection (ARC) at MSU, contributing to the small but growing knowledge about the diversity of Nocticolidae. The holotype, the designated single specimen that represents a new species, provides a critical reference point for future studies and is included among these specimens.
Cognato, a taxonomy expert, serves as the director of the ARC. “This research highlights the contributions that graduate students can make towards biodiversity knowledge and the role of the ARC in the preservation of scientifically important specimens like this holotype,” Cognato said.
The ARC hosts about 1.5 million preserved arthropod specimens from around the world, representing approximately 35,000 species. It has served as an invaluable scientific resource for 158 years, helping researchers identify new species, uncover information about evolutionary relationships and even support species conservation efforts.
