Onorgus Khandesh

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Context: A new beetle species has been discovered in India, according to a paper published in the New Zealand-based journal Zootaxa

Details:

About:

Omorgus Khandeshis necrophagous and is, therefore, also called a keratin beetle.
During the decomposition of a body, blowflies are amongst the first ones to arrive in the early stages.
Meanwhile, the final successional stage is with the arrival of the keratin feeders, thus their importance in forensic science.
The new species belongs to the Trogidae family.
With the addition of this new species, now there are a total of 14 extant species of this family in India.
The beetles of this group are sometimes called hide beetles as they tend to cover their body under the soil and hide.
They are not photogenic; they are usually black or grey and encrusted in dirt.
Their bumpy appearance is distinct, with short, dense setae all over the body.
The new species is morphologically most similar to Omorgus rimulosus. The latter is redescribed and illustrated to enable accurate recognition of both species in the new paper.
Omorgus Khandeshis mainly associated with bird and mammal nests or burrows and the details of their life histories are poorly known.
They feign death upon being disturbed and become motionless.

Importance:

The beetle is important for forensic science as it helps detect the time of death of an animal or human.

How are they different from regular beetles?

They are carrion feeders and are the last one to attend the carrion.
Hence, they are of forensic importance in the detection of the time of the death of the animal/human.
As they are mostly associated with bird and mammal nests/burrows, the details of their life histories are poorly known.
These new found beetles are less studied in the Oriental region, India particularly as compared to the other part of the world.

Important Fact:

Dr Kalawate is the first woman scientist to have discovered a new species in the country