The Macrophya lishuii is found in Lishui. [Photo/lsnews.com.cn]

A new species of Macrophya – Macrophya lishuii – was found in the city of Lishui in East China's Zhejiang province, according to news released at an event for the city's Ecological Civilization Day on July 29.

The new species is relatively large compared to other Macrophya and is mostly black. Its hind femurs are mostly orange-brown, with some black spots. 

In May 2019, the Lishui biodiversity survey team was conducting a survey on Jiulong Mountain when they spotted a brightly colored insect at the edge of the forest that they thought "looked beautiful". It was then initially identified as a new species through a comparative morphological study.

In May 2020, the results of research on the species were published in Alpine Entomology, an international journal of entomology, and it was formally recognized as a global new species.

The discovery of the new species in Lishui was due to the unique environment there. According to the study, the larva of Macrophya lishuii feeds on plants, and Jiulong Mountain is rich in vegetation and has a well-protected environment that provides a good living environment for the insect.

It is reported that so far, 54 species of wild animal under State key protection, 2,652 species of higher plants, 436 species of vertebrates, and 1,500 species of terrestrial insects have been found in Lishui.