A
newly discovered ladybug, found in Montana, can tuck its head into its
thorax. It's not just a new species but the start of a new genus of
ladybug beetle.
When he first found discovered it in one of
his traps, Ross Winton (formerly Montana State University) thought it
was just part of an ant. However closer inspection revealed that it was
actually a beetle that could withdraw its head into its
thorax. The tiny tan-coloured insect - measuring a mere 1mm long - had
previously been known by a female specimen collected in Idaho, but
because entomologists use males to describe new species credit for the
discovery went to Winton.
"The species is very unusual not
only because of its small size, unique habitat and rarity, but the fact
that its head is pulled back into a tube in its thorax makes its biology
quite a mystery," entomologist Michael Ivie (Montana State University)
said. "It was so unique that it was placed, along with another new
species known from Baja California, in a new genus. While discovery of a
new species of beetle in the USA is not an everyday event, a completely
new genus is quite rare."
Photo credit: Michael Ivie. Taken from above, the head is not visible at this angle.
http://www.livescience.com/
http://www.montana.edu/cpa/
http://www.reuters.com/
A
newly discovered ladybug, found in Montana, can tuck its head into its
thorax. It's not just a new species but the start of a new genus of
ladybug beetle.
When he first found discovered it in one of his traps, Ross Winton (formerly Montana State University) thought it was just part of an ant. However closer inspection revealed that it was actually a beetle that could withdraw its head into its
When he first found discovered it in one of his traps, Ross Winton (formerly Montana State University) thought it was just part of an ant. However closer inspection revealed that it was actually a beetle that could withdraw its head into its
thorax. The tiny tan-coloured insect - measuring a mere 1mm long - had
previously been known by a female specimen collected in Idaho, but
because entomologists use males to describe new species credit for the
discovery went to Winton.
"The species is very unusual not only because of its small size, unique habitat and rarity, but the fact that its head is pulled back into a tube in its thorax makes its biology quite a mystery," entomologist Michael Ivie (Montana State University) said. "It was so unique that it was placed, along with another new species known from Baja California, in a new genus. While discovery of a new species of beetle in the USA is not an everyday event, a completely new genus is quite rare."
Photo credit: Michael Ivie. Taken from above, the head is not visible at this angle.
http://www.livescience.com/
http://www.montana.edu/cpa/
http://www.reuters.com/
"The species is very unusual not only because of its small size, unique habitat and rarity, but the fact that its head is pulled back into a tube in its thorax makes its biology quite a mystery," entomologist Michael Ivie (Montana State University) said. "It was so unique that it was placed, along with another new species known from Baja California, in a new genus. While discovery of a new species of beetle in the USA is not an everyday event, a completely new genus is quite rare."
Photo credit: Michael Ivie. Taken from above, the head is not visible at this angle.
http://www.livescience.com/
http://www.montana.edu/cpa/
http://www.reuters.com/
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