Scientists have discovered a new plant species - a wild relative of black pepper - in the Andes mountains of Ecuador.
The new species, Piper kelleyi, is the sole home of an estimated 40-50 insect species, most of which are entirely dependent on this plant species for survival.
The chemical compounds produced by plants are the source of plants' unique flavours, aromas, and colours. These compounds often have important medicinal or toxic properties, and are the plant's natural way to resist pesky herbivores.
Black pepper and its wild relatives produce a wide diversity of chemical compounds, many of which are known to be biologically active.
These compounds are known to deter most herbivores, but a certain group of caterpillars has been able to overcome their toxicity and, as a result, most species of the genus feed only on a single species of wild black pepper, researchers said.
Each of these caterpillars typically has one to several predatory wasp and/or fly species that attack only that caterpillar species.
The new plant species, described in the journal PhytoKeys, supports the largest number of specialised caterpillar and predator species recorded for species in the black pepper family to date.
Many of these insect species are new to science as many remain unnamed.
Piper kelleyi supports an estimated 40-50 species of specialised herbivores and predators, which makes this newly described plant species, in itself, a veritable biodiversity hotspot, researchers said.
