New species of burying beetle discovered

Jun 25, 2013 |

Scientists have discovered a new species of burying beetle from the Solomon Islands archipelago. Burying beetles are well known to most naturalists because of their large size, striking black and red colours, and interesting reproductive behaviours — they bury small vertebrate carcasses which their offspring eat in an underground crypt, guarded by both parents.

This new species, named Nicrophorus efferens, known from only 6 specimens collected in 1968, sat unrecognised as an undescribed species for over 40 years. Second author of the study Tonya Mousseau, was visiting Hawaii and decided to look over the burying beetles held by the Bishop Museum. “Her PhD research was focused on the biogeography and evolution of a subgroup of these beetles and she identified these six specimens as very interesting and possibly new,” said Dr Sikes, University of Alaska Museum.

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