Entomologists have discovered two new insect species within a nature reserve in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and it is the first time that the species were discovered anywhere in the world.

The species, both being bees, were observed in the Ningxia Luoshan Nature Reserve during a scientific survey on insects in the area that began in 2008.

The discoveries were published on Zootaxa, a New Zealand-based scientific journal for animal taxonomists.