In January 2024, the description of a new tiger beetle species from the Philippines was published in Zootaxa.
๐๐ง๐๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ฎ๐ก๐ ๐๐ค๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ค๐ฃ๐
Distribution/habitat: Mindanao (Davao, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, and Misamis Oriental); specimens obtained in 2019
Endemic: Possible
Distinctive traits: ๐. ๐ซ๐ฐ๐ฉ๐ฏ๐ด๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ช resembles another tiger beetle species found in (but not endemic to) the Philippines, ๐. ๐ข๐ฑ๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ๐ข. Crucial differences include a wrinkled pronotum (the protective plate above its first pair of legs) — more noticeable in females than in males — and a slightly deeper groove between the eyes. Measuring up to 24 mm (about the size of a one-peso coin), ๐. ๐ซ๐ฐ๐ฉ๐ฏ๐ด๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ช is mostly black with a tinge of blue on its head and pronotum; it has brown upper limbs and black lower limbs.
Conservation status: Unknown/Unspecified
Described by: Alexander Anichtchenko & Jรผrgen Wiesner
Etymology: The researchers named the species after Walter N. Johnson, a Minnesota-based Nearctic tiger beetle specialist who helped them secure 10 specimens and โprovided extensive material of ๐๐ณ๐ช๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐บ๐ญ๐ข speciesโ for the research.โMF
Reference:
Author: Mikael Angelo Francisco
Bitten by the science writing bug, Mikael has years of writing and editorial experience under his belt. As the editor-in-chief of FlipScience, Mikael has sworn to help make science more fun and interesting for geeky readers and casual audiences alike.
