While insect genitalia may not be a widespread focus of the public, it is something that entomologists are fascinated with. Now, researchers from Denmark's Natural History Museum found a male beetle that had an odd genitalia with a bottle-opener shape.
Beetle With Bottle-Opener-Shaped Male Genitalia
The newly discovered beetle was found to have a penis with a bottle opener shape. There are various types of bottle openers. The bottle-opener-like genitalia of this novel beetle matches the type that serves as a lever-like device that has an extension that slips beneath the cap. A portion of the bottle opener goes on top of the cap in order to remove the cap and open the bottle.
Though the researchers are still not sure why this beetle got this odd and unique penis, further study into the insect could shed more light on how the genitals of the beetle affects its daily living and functioning.
Aslak Kappel Hansen, a co-author of the study from the University of Copenhagen, explains that genitalia are insect organs that evolve differently across species. Hence, they are typically the best way for species identification. This is why entomologists quickly examine the genitalia of insects when assessing and describing a certain species.
This species from South America is among the six new rove beetles that were discovered by the researchers at collections of insects from the Museum and other facilities. Such archives typically contain misidentified or unidentified species. This offers scientists room to delve deeper and unravel novel mysteries and discoveries.
Rove beetles that belong to the Staphylinidae family usually stay in moist leaf litter environments. While these beetles are quite widespread, there is still so much to uncover about them.
According to the University of Florida, Staphylinidae is the largest beetle family. It comprises more than 63,000 known species all over the globe. More than 75% of the tropic species could also be left undescribed.
These newfound beetles have male genitals shaped like a bottle opener https://t.co/CIu5bWlbB4
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Beetle Named After Carlsberg Beer
The beetle has been named Loncovilius carlbergi, which Danish beer fans should find familiar. This name comes after a Carlsberg beer. More specifically though, the name comes in honor of the Carlsberg Foundation, which contributes funding to scientific research. J.C. Jacobsen, the founder of Carlsberg brewery, began the foundation back in 1876.
Hansen explains that the foundation's support for various expeditions, projects, and purchases of instruments has contributed to new species discoveries in the Earth.
The researchers are hopeful that the distinct beetle would awaken public interest in insects that climate change is threatening. They are also working on creating a bottle opener that has the shape of this beetle's genitals.
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