Researchers from Bangladesh, China and India have identified a cicada species, *Dundubia annandalei Boulard*, in Bangladesh for the first time. The species was confirmed through field sample collection, analysis of morphological characteristics and examination of environmental data.

The research was jointly conducted by Professor Dr. Mohammad Abul Manjur Khan of the Department of Entomology at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) and Kong Wei, a researcher at Northwest A&F University in China. Indian researcher Babu Saddam and BAU postgraduate student Shahmot Jawad were directly involved in field data collection, sample gathering and species identification. The findings have been published in the international scientific journal *Insects*.

As part of the study, researchers conducted field surveys in different parts of Bangladesh from February to March 2025 and collected a total of 63 specimens. The samples are preserved in the Entomology Department Museum at BAU. Among them was a female cicada collected beneath a streetlight on the university campus.

The surveys found the species in orchards growing mangoes, lychees, dragon fruit, guavas, pineapples, bananas, jackfruits, lemons and oranges. Researchers also identified adult cicadas and their discarded exoskeletons on various trees and in bushes, including sal, bamboo, teak and queen crape myrtle.

Morphological analysis showed that *Dundubia annandalei* is generally grass-green in colour. Although green when alive, it turns brown after drying. While it resembles the species *Dundubia terpsichore* in appearance, a distinctive structural feature of the male insect is one of the key characteristics used to identify it.

Before this discovery, only one species from the genus *Dundubia*—*Dundubia ensifera*—had been documented in Bangladesh. The identification of *Dundubia annandalei* adds another species to the country’s recorded cicada diversity.

Climate Change Could Expand Potential Habitat
Professor Dr. Mohammad Abul Manjur Khan said researchers used the MaxEnt species distribution modelling approach to estimate the cicada’s current and future range. By analysing recorded occurrences alongside rainfall, temperature, elevation and other environmental variables, they identified areas that could provide suitable habitats for the species.

The findings indicate that rainfall has the greatest influence on the species’ distribution. In particular, variations in rainfall during the warmer months could change the areas suitable for its survival. Elevation and temperature also play important roles.

According to the researchers, approximately 861,000 square kilometres within the study area are currently suitable for the species. Of this area, around 300,000 square kilometres were classified as highly suitable, while 179,000 square kilometres were considered moderately suitable.

Climate change projections suggest that if global warming remains relatively limited, suitable habitat for the species could expand to approximately 1.752 million square kilometres by 2060. By the end of the century, the area could increase to around 1.94 million square kilometres.

Under scenarios involving substantially greater global warming, suitable habitat could temporarily shrink around the middle of the century. However, it may expand rapidly afterwards, potentially reaching approximately 2.63 million square kilometres by 2100.

Researchers noted that changes in temperature and rainfall patterns can alter the geographical distribution of insects. However, the habitat expansion projected by the MaxEnt model represents potential environmental suitability rather than a confirmed prediction of the species’ actual spread or its impact on agriculture.

Further Research Needed to Assess Agricultural Risks
During their immature stages, cicadas primarily feed on xylem sap—the tissue that transports water and minerals through plants. Although some cicada species can damage trees and crops, the study did not establish the extent to which the newly identified *Dundubia annandalei* currently affects agriculture in Bangladesh. Therefore, projections of expanding suitable habitat cannot, on their own, confirm the likelihood of widespread agricultural damage.

Professor Khan said cicadas are present in orchards across Bangladesh. He noted that during summer, particularly when mangoes are ripening, their loud reproductive calls can often be heard around trees, providing an indication of their presence in mango orchards.

He added that commercial fruit cultivation is expanding in the country’s hilly regions. According to the MaxEnt model, some areas in these regions fall within the species’ potential distribution range. However, insufficient research has been conducted to determine how the insect affects commercial orchards there, particularly whether it has any adverse effects on horticultural crop production or normal tree growth.

Professor Khan emphasised that identifying a new species is not enough. Its distribution, life cycle, feeding habits and potential agricultural impact must also be determined. If the species is proven to cause economically significant damage, effective management strategies will need to be developed.

He further stressed that long-term field research is essential to assess potential agricultural risks. Support from government and private institutions, as well as funding agencies, will be necessary to establish the species’ presence in commercial orchards in hilly areas, measure any damage and determine appropriate management methods.

According to the researchers, adequate public and private research support would enable continuous monitoring and help generate reliable information about the species’ ecological distribution and actual agricultural impact. Such findings could provide a basis for timely and effective preventive measures if any risk of economic damage is identified in the future.