Book on lanternfliesis launched
Published on: Thursday, April 20, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: Spectacular in colour and extravagant in shape many of which characterised by a stunning heady projection, Lanternflies were the subject of the latest book launch Wednesday. Natural History Publications (Borneo) is once again behind the 11th title of its guide book series entitled "A Guide to Lanternflies of Borneo" launched at the Kinabalu Hyatt Regency. The book, written by Sabahan lead author Dr Stevenn Bosuang, two French co-authors Cedric Audibert, Thierry Porion and Datuk CL Chan, was officially unveiled by Guest of Honour Tan Jiew Hoe who is the Director of Board of Gardens By The Bay Singapore.
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The 127-page monograph covers all the 31 species of and three sub species of Lanternflies in Borneo, according to Chan."Twenty species are endemic to Borneo which represents 63pc of the species," Chan noted. "All the species are illustrated by multiple high-quality photographs taken either in the wild or specimens with their wings spread out , allowing naturalists easy identification of the species portrayed," he added."One new taxon, Samasana chersoniana borneana from Sabah is described for the first time in the this book," Chan said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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Making up the bug family Fulgoridae, the lanternflies include some of the most ornate and attractive insects, Chan asserted.In 1705, German artist and naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian speculated in her book that the presence of some bacteria was the probable cause of its natural ability to produce and emit light but this was later proven to be untrue, Chan said.
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Carl Linnaeus described the first Lanternfly, Vicada Candelaria in 1758.Subsequently, the majority of the Lanternflies that are spectacular in colour and extravagant in shape were discovered and described and most species are highly conspicuous with beautiful colours, Chan said. On the other hand, the display of bright colours – red, orange and even blue especially in their hind wings serve as strong defensive advertisement of their bitter taste to their predators such as frogs, reptiles, birds and even small mammals.But when the hind wings are not outspread, the folded forewings do a perfect camouflage job with its surroundings, Chan noted. However the function of the striking cephalic projection remains a mystery although it is clear it is not used to for lighting, inspite of the legend that these insects produce light which has given them the common name Lanternfly, Chan said. Their wingspan is very rarely less than 20mm while a few species reach 150mm (about six inches) with their wings outspread but they are weak fliers . Food wise, generally they are active sap feeders during the day and apparently not host specific.Unlike butterflies and beetles, Laternflies go through incomplete metamorphosis in five instars where the nymphs resemble the adults although the winds are rudimentary in development. As usual, the Lanternflies remain much under-studied in terms of its life cycle, ecology, behaviour ad reproduction, according to Chan. - Kan Yaw Chong
