Researchers have discovered a new species of beetle in Sri Lanka, the BBC reported early Thursday morning. Scientists are calling the find groundbreaking for a myriad of reasons. The newly named, “Chittagong Beetle” was originally thought to be a variation of a boll weevil, until scientists discovered subtle differences within the insects. The beetles were found in the Hikkaduwa National Park located in the Central Province.
“This discovery illustrates the role evolution is still playing in the development of Planet Earth” said Dr. Petros Levienakos, bio-researcher from the University of London team who has been studying Sri Lankan habitats since June of 2003.
The Chittagong title was given to honor scientists in Chittagong, Bangladesh who first studied the bug, but falsely categorized it as of the Weevil variety.
“Weevils and beetles have been around for millions of years. To see a new species emerge is very exciting for the scientific community,” began Levienakos. ”The neutral theory of evolution proposes that their diversity is the result of the accumulation of neutral substitutions. Diversifying selection is the hypothesis that two subpopulations of a species live in different environments that select for different alleles at a particular locus. This may occur, for instance, if a species has a large range relative to the mobility of individuals.”
This is what happened in Chittagong. Common boll weevils living in Bangladesh had been marginalized by urban sprawl so much so, that their genetic diversity caused a whole new species to be born out of another.
It marks the first time humans have essentially helped impact the creation of a species rather than causing it to go extinct.
Jacqueline Rogers, head of London University’s Weevil and Beetle Research Team had this to say-
“We’re very excited. Beetles are the insects with the largest number of known species. It is always great to add one more to that historic number.”
We here at imgross are excited for Jacqueline and the rest of the scientific community. Good job on finding one more of the world’s most popular insect.
Guess God had an addendum to the script of life…as we know it.
Let me know what God’s going to say about aliens when they come here to destroy our planet.