Dokdo Ecosystem Monitoring Report, Insects

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  Painted lady (Cynthia cardui)

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  Stenolophus difficilis

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  Geotomus pygmaeus

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  Cassida piperata

< Sources: Daegu Local Ministry of Environment, 2013 >

A total of 134 species of insects have been found on Dokdo (excluding 30 unidentified species). In terms of biogeography, the entomofauna on Dokdo is highly unique, owing to the limited distribution of flora on this volcanic island. As for insects flying in from other areas (insects that migrate by moving with storms or currents from foreign environments), survival is a great challenge due to the poor habitation environment on Dokdo.

By taxonomic group, the insects studied on Dokdo are: Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Homoptera, Collembola, Odonata, Orthoptera, Dermaptera, and Neuroptera.

Of particular note, Dokdo acts as a “biogeographical limit line” for many insects. Especially, Dokdo is known to be the northern limit line for Campylomma lividicorne Reuter in terms of its global distribution. For Balclutha pseudoviridis, Dokdo is considered its eastern limit line. Furthermore, Dokdo is the only place in the Korean territory where Agrypnus miyamotoi has been discovered, and the island is known as the western limit line of its global distribution.

Proportion of Insect Orders Found on Dokdo (2013)

< Sources: Daegu Local Ministry of Environment, 2013; Gyeongsangbukdo, 2010, Dokdo Series >

Proportion of Species by Order Found on Dokdo During the Study Period (2013)

< Sources: Daegu Local Ministry of Environment, 2013; Gyeongsangbukdo, 2010, Dokdo Series >