Project's information
| Project's title | Developing the first–class research team on the discovery of diversity and application potential of hymenopterans, myriapods and soil nematodes in the limestone mountains of northeastern Vietnam |
| Project’s code | NCXS01.04/23-25 |
| Research hosting institution | Institute of Biology |
| Project leader’s name | Nguyen Duc Anh, PhD |
| Project duration | 01/01/2023 - 31/12/2025 |
| Project’s budget | 5,955,000 VND |
| Classify | Grade A |
| Goal and objectives of the project | General goals: Explore and clarify the diversity and application potential of groups of hymenopteran wasps, millipedes and soil nematodes in the limestone mountains of Northeast Vietnam, thereby having conservation orientation and proposing measures for reasonable use of potential groups.
Specific objectives:
- Obtain data on species diversity of hymenopteran wasps, millipedes and soil nematodes in the limestone mountains of Northeast Vietnam;
- Obtain database on biodiversity and genetics of hymenopteran wasps, millipedes and soil nematodes in the limestone mountains of Northeast Vietnam;
a- Obtain data on groups/species of animals (hymenopteran wasps, millipedes and soil nematodes) sensitive to environmental change, with potential for use as biological indicators; identify species with economic potential, with potential for biological activity. |
| Main results | - Theoretical results:
+) A comprehensive picture of biodiversity of three research groups has been established: Millipedes: 95 species were recorded, many of which are endemic to the limestone mountains, especially in Cao Bang, Bac Kan and Lao Cai. Hymenoptera wasps: 344 species/species were identified, including many new records for Vietnam and new species for science, confirming that the Northeast mountainous region is one of the regions with the highest diversity of bee species in the country. Soil nematodes: 131 species/species were recorded, including many new species and new genera for science, demonstrating the high uniqueness of the soil ecosystem in the limestone mountains.
+) Discovery and description of new species/genera of high scientific value: 9 new Myriapoda species, 8 new Hymenoptera species, 1 new genus and 6 new nematode species, and many new records for the flora of Vietnam. This shows that the research area is a key area containing unique genetic resources.
+) Identifying groups of species with potential applications: 33 species with potential applications have been identified, including 8 species of hymenopterans, 11 species of millipedes, and 14 species of nematodes. Hymenopterans: many peptides/venoms with high biological activity (antibacterial, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, etc.) have been detected. Nematodes and millipedes: identifying biological indicators reflecting the level of land degradation and environmental quality.
Completed genetic database (COI barcoding) for rapid species identification and monitoring of population fluctuations.
- Applied results:
+) Building a large-scale biological and genetic database: Systematizing data on classification, distribution, and endemism for all three groups, serving further research and supporting biological resource management in the Northeastern mountainous provinces.
Built a DNA database of hymenopteran wasps, millipedes, and soil nematodes.
+) Providing scientific evidence for conservation: Many areas show high biodiversity and great differences, especially Ha Giang, Cao Bang, and Lao Cai. Some areas show signs of diversity loss (Thai Nguyen, Bac Giang), and need measures to restore habitats. |
| Novelty and actuality and scientific meaningfulness of the results | - For the myriapods: 8 new species were discovered and described including: Sinocallipus similis Nguyen, Stoev & Vu, 2025 (2 species of the Callipodida order); Pseudodesmus karstomus Nguyen, Nguyen & Korsos, 2024 (of the Platydesmida order); Anoplodesmus lobus Nguyen, Vu, Nguyen & Le, 2025; Anoplodesmis bilobus Nguyen, Vu, Nguyen & Le, 2025; Anoplodesmus gladius Nguyen, Vu, Nguyen & Le, 2025; Kronopolites contrastus Nguyen, Vu. Phung, Tran & Le, 2025; Hylomus piccolo Nguyen, Vu & Nguyen, 2025; Hylomus borealis Nguyen, Vu & Nguyen, 2025 (6 species of the Polydesmida order). In addition, there are many new species that are only classified to morphological form. They may be unknown species or species forms, and it takes time to verify the morphological characteristics. |
| Products of the project | - Scientific papers in referred journals (list): 18 articles have been published within the scope of the research content of the task. Of which, 16 articles were published in journals listed in Q1, 02 articles were published in journals listed in Q2. Q1-listed journals: 1. Nguyen L.T.P., Nguyen A.D., Tran N.T., Nguyen M.T., Engel M.S., 2023. The potter wasp genus Allorhynchium from Vietnam, with descriptions of three new species and a new country record (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae). ZooKeys, 1166: 1-32. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1166.102674 2. Vu T.T.T., Nguyen A.D., Le T.M.L., Peña-Santiago R., 2024. Updated taxonomy and new insights into the evolutionary relationships of the genus Sporonchulus Cobb, 1917 (Nematoda, Mononchida) after the study of two Vietnamese species. Zoosystematics and Evolution, 100(1): 155–166. https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.100.118675 3. Nguyen L.T.P., Nguyen A.D., Dang H.T., 2024. The solitary wasp genus Orancistrocerus from Vietnam, with descriptions of two new species (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae). ZooKeys, 1193: 95–110. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1193.11608 4. Nguyen A.D., Vu T.T.T., Egguchi K., 2024. The millipede family Polydesmidae Leach, 1816 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida) from Vietnam, with a description of a new cavernicolous species. ZooKeys, 1190: 259-280. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1190.114958 5. Nguyen T.P.L., Nguyen A.D., Dang T.H., Yamane S., Engel M.S., 2024. Taxonomic review of the potter wasp genus Antepipona de Saussure (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae) from Vietnam, with descriptions of two new species and keys to the Oriental fauna. Zoosystema, 46 (27): 697-722. https://doi.org/10.5252/zoosystema2024v46a27. 6. Nguyen T.P.L., Tran T.N., Nguyen A.D., Engel M.S., 2024. A review of the solitary wasp genus Apodynerus from Vietnam (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Zoologischer Anzeiger, 313: 49-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2024.08.009 7. Vu T.T.T., Nguyen A.D., Le T.M.L., Peña-Santiago R., 2024. New insights into the evolutionary relationships of the genus Actus Baqri & Jairajpuri, 1974 (Nematoda, Mononchida) after the study of three Vietnamese species, with its updated taxonomy. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 313: 191-207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2024.10.009 8. Vu T.T.T., Elshishka M., Nguyen A.D., Le T.M.L., Mladenov A., Peneva V., 2024. Two new species of genus Labronema Thorne, 1939 (Nematoda, Dorylaimidae) from natural parks of Vietnam with an identification key to the species with a mediumsized odontostyle. ZooKeys, 1215: 1–26. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1215.128183 9. Nguyen A.D., Nguyen L.T.P., Korsós Z., 2024. A review of the millipede genus Pseudodesmus Pocock, 1887 (Diplopoda, Platydesmida, Andrognathidae) from Vietnam, with descriptions of five new species and notes on its phylogeny. Zoosystematics and Evolution, 100(4): 1515-1541. https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.100.132111 10. Tran N.T., Nguyen L.T.P.*, Nguyen A.D., Engel M.S., 2025. New species and records of the nomiine bee genus Maculonomia from Vietnam (Hymenoptera, Halictidae). Zoosystema, 47(4): 51-73. https://doi.org/10.5252/zoosystema2025v47a4 11. Nguyen A.D., Vu T.T.T., Phung H.L.T., Tran D.-L., Le H.-A., 2025. Mountainous millipedes in Vietnam. V. The millipede genus Kronopolites Attems, 1914 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae), with descriptions of two new species. ZooKeys, 1249: 223–245. https://doi. org/10.3897/zookeys.1249.155280 12. Nguyen A.D., Vu T.T.T, Nguyen T.A.T., Le S.X., 2025. Mountainous millipedes in Vietnam. IV. Three new Anoplodesmus Pocock, 1895 in northern Vietnam (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae), with notes on its phylogenetics. Zoosystematics and Evolution, 101(3): 919-934. https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.150442 13. Nguyen A.D., Vu T.T.T., Nguyen T-A.T., 2025. Mountainous millipedes in Vietnam. III. Two new dragon millipedes from limestone mountains in northern Vietnam (Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae, Hylomus), with an identification key to Vietnamese Hylomus species. ZooKeys, 1223: 247–262. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1223.139649 14. Nguyen A.D., Stoev P., Vu T.T.T., 2025. Integrative data reveal a new millipede species of Sinocallipus Zhang, 1993 (Callipodida, Sinocallipodidae) from Vietnam, with notes on its phylogeny. Zoosystematics and Evolution, 101(1): 69-80. https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.138716 15. Vu T.T.T., Abolafia J., Nguyen A.D., Le T.M.L., Peña-Santiago R., 2025. Vastnema crassicutaneum gen. et sp. nov. (Nematoda, Dorylaimida, Dorylaimidae), an interesting new taxon from natural areas of Vietnam. Zoosystematics and Evolution, 101(2): 583-596. https://www.doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.144271 16. Vu T.T.T., Nguyen A.D., Peña-Santiago R., 2025. Updated taxonomy and new insights into the evolutionary relationships of the genus Parahadronchus Mulvey, 1978 (Nematoda, Mononchida, Iotonchidae) after the study of three Vietnamese species. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 319: 323-334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2025.10.006 Q2-listed journals: 1. Okayasu J., Lelej A.S., Williams K.A., Brabant C.M., Nguyen L.T.P., Nguyen A.D., Pham T.H., Truong T.T.C., 2025. Current knowledge on the velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae, Myrmosidae) of Vietnam: faunal review and new distributional records. Zootaxa, 5668: 1-104. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5668.1.1 2. Tam T. T. Vu, Katarzyna Rybarczyk-Mydłowska, Nguyen A.D., Thi M. L. Le, Grażyna Winiszewska (2024). Comprehensive Studies on the Vietnamese and Polish Populations of Jensenonchus sphagni (Brzeski, 1960) (Nematoda: Iotonchidae). Annales Zoologici, 74(4), 551-572, https://doi.org/10.3161/00034541ANZ2024.74.4.002 - Patents (list): - Technological products (describe in details: technical characteristics, place): - A collection of 458 specimens of 152 species is kept at the Institute of Biology, including: 270 specimens of 65 species of wasps, 124 specimens of 52 species of nematodes and 64 specimens of 35 species of millipedes. - A total of 405 gene sequences of 106 species of millipedes, wasps and soil nematodes have been registered in GenBank - A database of 80 species has been built, stored at the Institute of Biology, including: 20 species of millipedes, 30 species of wasps, 30 species of soil nematodes - Other products (if applicable): + Within the framework of the task implementation time, we have supported the training of 02 PhD students, of which 01 PhD student successfully defended his doctoral thesis in July 2025, 01 PhD student is continuing to do the thesis. |
| Recommendations | +) Prioritize conservation of areas with high diversity and endemism i) Continuing to conduct research on the diversity of hymenoptera, polypedia, and soil nematodes in the Northwest mountainous region of Vietnam Continuing to conduct research on the diversity and potential of hymenoptera, polypedia, and soil nematodes in the limestone mountainous region of Northwest Vietnam in the coming time is urgent and a necessary piece to have a comprehensive picture of the biodiversity of these three groups for the entire northern mountainous region of Vietnam. ii) Rational exploitation and development of economically and biologically valuable resources - Focusing on more in-depth research into the biochemical activities of peptides of 7 hymenoptera species to develop products for application in medicine and pharmaceuticals. - Evaluating the potential use of polypedia and soil nematodes for soil biological control to serve sustainable agricultural development. |
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