Beetle Discovery Paints Chilling Picture of Earth's Biodiversity Crisis

Wednesday - November 15 2023, 21:58 UTC - 1 year ago

The University of Copenhagen's research squad just unveiled six newly discovered beetle species in South America, one of which was named Loncovilius carlsbergi after the beer juggernaut Carlsberg as a result of its sexual organ resembling a bottle opener. These beetles play a vital role in their ecosystem, although their role is largely unknown to science. The researchers are urging more attention to the millions of unknown species casually chilling on our planet, before it's too late. Climate change is stirring up trouble for these newly uncovered beetle buddies, placing many of them at risk.

In a big cheer to beetles and biodiversity, the University of Copenhagen's research squad just unveiled six newly discovered beetle species in South America. One of them, in particular, caught the researchers’ attention. Coming from the lineage of the rove beetle genus Loncovilius, the species's sexual organ has an uncanny resemblance to a bottle opener. The team found it so attention-grabbing that they decided to name it after the beer juggernaut Carlsberg .

The Carlsberg Foundation’s long-standing and generous support for independent research has played a significant role in scientific findings. "Their support for various projects, expeditions, or purchase of the scientific instruments at the Natural History Museum of Denmark contributes to the discovery of new species on our planet," explained biologist Aslak Kappel Hansen of the Natural History Museum of Denmark in a press release .

The researchers don’t have an explanation yet for why the sexual organ of the beetle, officially named Loncovilius carlsbergi, evolved into its unique shape. "Genitalia are the organs in insects that evolve to be different in every species," said Hansen. "As such, they are often the best way to identify a species. That's why entomologists like us are always quick to examine insect genitalia when describing a species .

The unique shape of each species’ genitals ensures that it can only reproduce with the same species," he added. This discovery comes with a serious note - the world is witnessing a distressing acceleration in the extinction of species, with a staggering rate of up to 150 species disappearing from our planet every day, explained the researchers in the press release. Adding to this ecological crisis is the unsettling fact that the majority of Earth's diverse species, including those that are vanishing, still remain unknown and unidentified to science .

The researchers are sounding the alarm, urging everyone to start paying more attention to the millions of unknown species casually chilling on our planet. They're waving the flag of urgency, emphasizing that time's ticking away, and we better get to know our fellow Earthlings before it's too late. The researchers explained that the Loncovilius, the enigmatic beetle family that they stumbled upon, reside in the hidden corners of Chile and Argentina and quietly make their home on flowers .

According to Josh Jenkins Shaw, a bug academic who was part of the study, these flower-dwelling Loncovilius beetles play a vital role in their ecosystem – and sadly, we are clueless about them.Adding to the problem is climate change, which is stirring up trouble for these newly uncovered beetle buddies. As our planet grapples with a biodiversity crisis, these beetles are at risk. "Loncovilius populations are likely to change in coming decades," said José L .

Reyes-Hernández, the lead author of the study. "Our simulations demonstrate that at least three of the Loncovilius species are at risk because the rapidly changing climate strongly alternate more than half of their habitat area by 2060. It is important to stress that many more species might be at risk if warmer climates arrive before our descriptions become available." .