Mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on Earth, causing more human deaths than sharks, snakes, and even other humans combined. These tiny, buzzing insects, often dismissed as mere nuisances, are the primary carriers of devastating diseases like malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, which collectively claim over 700,000 lives globally every year. In India, where the tropical climate, mixed with poor water and waste management, creates the perfect environment for mosquitoes, understanding these miniature menaces is a matter of national importance.
Jaechanax kuranganiensis larva. Credit authors - https://doi.org/10.55446/IJE.2025.3421
Researchers have uncovered a previously unknown species of the unique aquatic insect known as the water-penny beetle, marking the first-ever record of its genus in Tamil Nadu. The discovery, made in the fast-flowing Kurangani stream of the Bodi hills, introduces Jaechanax kuranganiensis to the world.
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