Media

HKU biologists describe and name a new ant species from Hong Kong

29 Jul 2016

 

The Insect Biogeography and Biodiversity research group led by Dr Benoit Guénard at the School of Biological Sciences, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has recently described and named a new species of ant from Hong Kong. The findings were published in Asian Myrmecology, a peer-reviewed, yearly journal dedicated to the study of Asian ants.

A newly described species is a species previously unknown to Science, i.e. it has been discovered on Earth for the first time. The person who describes it has the right to name it. The new ant species discovered by the research team represents the 22^nd ant species described from Hong Kong since 1858. The last one was in 2000. Descriptions of earlier species had to be dated back to 1928.  

This new ant species was found just a few hundred meters from HKU campus on the foothill of Lung Fu Shan Country Park during a night field course by Ms Ying Luo, a research assistant of the School of Biological Sciences. Dr Guénard and Ms Luo will meet the media to announce the name of the new species, which is closely related to Hong Kong, and to introduce its habitat and the importance of its discovery to the research of biodiversity. Details are as below:

Date:   August 1, 2016 (Monday)
Time/Activity/Venue:
10:50    Gathering on G/F, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, Main Campus, Pokfulam, HKU (Map)
11:00    Photo taking Lung Fu Shan Country Park (8-minute walk from HKU, journalists please wear sports shoes)
11:20    Press briefing at Conference Room, Room 6N-11, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building

Spokespersons:
Dr Guénard, Assistant Professor of School of Biological Sciences
Ms Ying Luo, research assistant of School of Biological Sciences

Media enquiry:
Communication and Public Affairs Office Ms Melanie Wan (Tel: 2859 2600; email: melwkwan@hku.hk)
Faculty of Science Ms Cindy Chan (Tel: 3917 5286/ 6703 0212; email: cindycst@hku.hk)