About New Spider Species

About New Spider Species: 

• The newly discovered species, Habrocestum swaminathan and Habrocestum benjamin, which have been added to the illustrious roster of the genus Habrocestum.
• These spider species are the unsung heroes of natural pest control and vital indicators of ecosystem health.
• Habrocestum swaminathan 
  • It was discovered from the banks of the river Kunthi and was named after M.S. Swaminathan, considering his contributions to the science field and his efforts on the conservation of Silent Valley, from where the Kunthi river originates.
• Habrocestum benjamin
  • It was collected from Thusharagiri, one of the foothills of the Nilgiri biosphere reserve.
  • These spiders are attractive with beautiful colour patches and were spotted near the Thusharagiri waterfalls, a busy tourist destination. This species was named after Suresh P. Benjamin, a Sri Lanka-based jumping spider specialist.

Q1: What are Biosphere reserves?

These are designated areas that seek to balance conservation of biodiversity, sustainable development, and scientific research. These reserves serve as models for harmonious coexistence between humans and the environment.

Source: Two new species of jumping spiders discovered from Western Ghats