Bangkok - Thai entomologists have discovered three new species of snout beetles, a subfamily which already includes some 10,000 bug groups, media reports aid Tuesday.

"It has just been confirmed by a snout beetle expert in Japan that they are the world's newest recorded species," said Watana Sukchoowong, an entomologist at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

"The new discovery will be published in a recognized snout beetle magazine soon," he told the Bangkok Post newspaper.

The newly found species have been named Articerodes thailandicus, Articerodes omomoi and Articerodes jariyae, joining the Pselaphinae (snout beetle) subfamily that already includes 10,000 species worldwide.

The new species were found in Thailand's fast-disappearing national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the eastern provinces of Chachoengsao and Chantaburi. (dpa)