Newly Discovered Cockroach Named After Bug Pokemon
A newly discovered cockroach species has been found and named in one of the most densely inhabited countries on Earth. The new bug was discovered in a forested nature reserve in the small Southeast Asian country of Singapore, and it's been named after a Pokemon.
Reported by The Straits Times, the cockroach has been aptly named after the cockroach-like Pokemon Pheromosa, which was introduced in the seventh generation of the Pokemon Games. "There are some similarities between Pheromosa and the delicate cockroach that we found", said entomologist Foo Maosheng, who co-authored the finding. These similarities include long antenna, wings that mimic a hood, and long slender legs. "Both my collaborator and I are Pokemon fans, so we thought, why not name it after a Pokemon inspired by a cockroach", Foo added.
The newly discovered cockroach has the scientific name Nocticola pheromosa, and it was introduced in the Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology on February 27. It is the first time a cockroach of the genus Nocticola has been found in Singapore.
Nocticola (which means "fond of the night" in Latin) pheromosa was discovered by comparing the differences between the male genitalia of specimens with its closest relative from Borneo, alongside other checks the entomologists carried out. Entomology is the study of insects, while bug Pokemon have existed since Gen 1 of the Games. In the anime, standouts have included Butterfree and the Mythical Pokemon Genesect.
Pheromosa meanwhile was one of two Bug-type Ultra Beasts introduced in Gen 7, alongside Buzzwole. The two are both Bug/Fighting types while Pheromosa is known for its nimble fighting attributes in contrast to the more muscular Buzzwole. Pheromosa had a brief stint in the Sun & Moon anime where it stole Z-Crystals.
As for the real-life cockroach, Foo Maosheng, who is the scientific officer at the National University of Singapore Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, said that there are comparatively few studies conducted on cockroaches and termites, since they are "less charismatic" than bees, butterflies, or beetles.
The Singaporean cockroach was not formally identified for some years. A few male specimens were collected between 2016 and 2017 in secondary forest in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve on an insect survey. No formal records of the cockroach existed while DNA records also did not match anything previously recorded.
Then, Cristian C. Lucanas, an entomologist from the UPLB Museum of Natural History in the Philippines, saw pictures of the specimens online and reached out to Foo. Lucanas then dissected specimens and realised it had not been scientifically documented. Together, the pair recorded their findings on which Lucanas is the study's lead author.
The new species is now the twenty-third from its genus, which have been discovered in tropical Africa, India, mainland Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Unlike other cockroaches, Nocticola phermosa is far more delicate and tend to live in more isolated ecosystems. Not much is known about this new Singaporean species, including where it came from. Foo explained that these cockroaches have a role to play in their forest ecosystems, such as pollination and nutrient recycling.
Foo told The Straits Times, "I'm like one of those bug-type trainers [in Pokemon] as I go to different places to find out more about what insects we have". He has certainly captured a real-life "Pokemon" to add to the scientific "Pokedex". Nocticola pheromosa joins the list of real-world creatures to be named after Pokemon. In 2021, three Australian beetles with distinctively fiery colours were named after the legendary bird Pokemon Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos.
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