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New beetle species and genus in Australia: The researchers don't yet know what the hair is used for

Photo: James Tweed

Some mix-ups are nice and can even be a compliment. However, no one wants to be mistaken for bird droppings. However, that's exactly what happened to a newly discovered species of beetle in Australia.

"I was walking through the campsite at Binna Burra Lodge one morning when something on a lomandra leaf caught my eye," said James Tweed, according to a statement. At first he thought what he saw was bird droppings. "But to my amazement, I found the most extraordinary and fluffy longhorned beetle I had ever seen." The beetle was 9.7 millimeters long, red-black and covered with lots of white hairs.

After his trip, he searched the Internet, books and scientific articles for the beetle. But he didn't find anything, and no insect even looked similar to what he found. Finally he emailed the Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC). According to the statement, the experts there answered him: the beetle was a newly discovered species.

In fact, when Tweed visited the center, it turned out that he had found not just a new species, but a new genus. Tweed and his team called her Excastra.

No further specimens discovered

It is currently not possible to say why the insects have the noticeable hairs. "Our main theory is that they make the insect look like it was killed by a fungus," Tweed said. “That would potentially deter predators like birds from eating it.”

The area near Lamington National Park where Tweed found the beetle has actually long been a popular area for insect collectors. It is therefore puzzling that the genus has remained undiscovered so far. But even when Tweed returned to the site to look for more specimens, he had no luck.

"We are experiencing a rapid decline in biodiversity around the world, and it is difficult to conserve species that we don't even know exist," said Tweed. "Insects are the most diverse group of animals on our planet, but also the least appreciated and studied." Tweed published his results together with colleagues in the scientific journal "Australian Journal of Taxonomy."

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