New fluffy longhorn beetle found in Australia

The adjective “fluffy” will not be normally one which applies to the billions of bugs that decision Earth dwelling. Nonetheless, some caterpillars, spiders, and beetles do have longer fuzzy hairs from their many appendages. Now, there’s a new genus of fluffy longhorn beetle in Australia that was discovered by probability and a little bit of mistaken id. The newly found Excastra albopilosa (E. albopilosa) is described in a examine printed March 19 within the  Australian Journal of Taxonomy.

Excastra was initially found by entomologist James Tweed whereas he and his companion had been tenting within the rainforests of Queensland, Australia. He initially thought the lower than an inch lengthy critter with its lengthy white and black hairs was a little bit of chicken poop. 

“I used to be strolling by means of the campsite at Binna Burra Lodge one morning and one thing on a Lomandra leaf caught my eye,” Tweed mentioned in an announcement. “To my amazement, I noticed probably the most extraordinary and fluffiest longhorn beetle I had ever seen.” Tweed is an entomologist on the College of Queensland. 

After his journey, Tweed combed by means of obtainable books, scientific papers, and on the web to seek out the title of this species, however his search got here up empty. Some images posted to an Australasian beetles Fb group sparked some curiosity, however even probably the most seasoned insect identifiers had been stumped. 

The Australian Nationwide Insect Assortment in Canberra formally confirmed that the beetle was not solely a very new species, however a brand new genus. They chose the title Excastra for the genus title, which suggests “from the camp.” Its species title albopilosa means “white and bushy.”

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“We don’t but know what these hairs are for, however our main idea is that they make the insect seem like it’s been killed by an insect-killing fungus,” mentioned Tweed. “This may deter predators corresponding to birds from consuming it, however till somebody can discover extra specimens and examine this species additional, we gained’t be capable of say for certain why this beetle is so bushy.”

The realm the place Excastra was situated has been common with entomologists for over a century and Tweed has not seen it on any further journeys again to the park. Some of these probability found spotlight simply what number of unknown species are on the market and what number of might danger going extinct. 

“Bugs are probably the most numerous group of animals on the planet however are additionally probably the most underappreciated and understudied,” mentioned Tweed. “Greatest estimates counsel there could also be 5.5 million insect species worldwide and solely one-fifth of those have been named and described.”