16 New Species of Darkling Beetles Discovered Here Over 20 Years

Their behavioral patterns may provide clues to coping with climate change, says expert

- Calista Wong

Sixteen new species of darkling beetles have been found here after more than two decades of one researcher's consistent effort in surveying local forests.

Found mostly on decaying trees and foliage within the Central Catchment Nature Reserve and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve at night, the beetles belong to the family Tenebrionidae, a name aptly derived from the Latin word "tenebrae," meaning "darkness."

The discovery of 14 of the new darkling beetle species was detailed in two research papers published in May 2024 and November 2024, co-authored by Dr Kiyoshi Ando, a research fellow at Ehime University in Japan, and Dr Cheong Loong Fah, an honorary research associate at NUS' Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum.

A third paper published in May 2025, authored solely by Dr Cheong, introduced descriptions of the remaining two new species.

Of the 16 species new to science, 15 are currently known to exist only in Singapore, with one also found in the Malay Peninsula.

Additionally, the papers documented three other species of darkling beetles — previously found in Sumatra, Borneo, and the Malay Peninsula — being recorded in Singapore for the first time.

When asked about the implications of the discovery of these new species, Dr Eunice Tan, a researcher from NUS who studies the arthropods of South-east Asia, told The Straits Times that "the ecological significance of these species is currently unknown, until further research is done to understand how these species interact with the environment."