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.
"The discovery of new species in old collections is a common occurrence and one of the many reasons why museums like the Bishop play a vital role in helping us understand life on this planet," Sikes said.
"Without my background and training in the taxonomy of beetles, particularly the burying beetles, this new species might never have been uncovered," Tonya said.
"This really reinforces the idea that classic training in taxonomy and systematics is absolutely necessary to discovering and understanding the biodiversity of earth," she said.
As far as the authors of this new species know, no one has seen this species alive.
"It's likely they bury small vertebrate carcasses, like their close relatives do, but if they have any different behaviours we'll have to wait for future studies to learn of them," researchers said.
The study was published in the journal Zookeys.
