New Turtle Beetle Species Discovered in Sulawesi Mountains, Indonesia

A research team from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has discovered two new species of turtle beetle, *Thlaspidula gandangdewata* and *Thlaspidula sarinoi*, in the mountains of Sulawesi, Indonesia. The discovery, made in Gunung Gandangdewata and Gunung Torompupu, enhances the region's insect biodiversity and provides new insights into the taxonomy of turtle beetles (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae). The beetles are distinguished by unique black spot patterns on their elytra and pronotum, as well as differences in antenna segment length and color. Specimens are stored at the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense (MZB). This finding is crucial for documenting Indonesia's biodiversity, particularly in the mountainous regions of Sulawesi, a center of fauna endemism. Further research is needed to understand the ecology, distribution, and conservation needs of these new species. The research was published in the January 2025 edition of the journal *Zootaxa*.