A new species of beetle, named Spathaspina noohi, was recently discovered from the biodiverse forests of Meghalaya.
About Spathaspina noohi:
It is a new species of beetle.
The beetle was found in the Umran area of Ri Bhoi district in Meghalaya at an elevation of 781 metres.
It belongs to the weevil family.
Weevils are part of the large beetle family Curculionidae, which includes over 60,000 known species globally.
While many are known as agricultural pests, some, like the Spathaspina noohi, play important roles in ecosystems by helping control invasive plant species and maintaining ecological balance.
Spathaspina noohi features a striking sword-like spine on its back. This highly unusual anatomical feature led researchers to assign it to an entirely new genus within the subfamily Ceutorhynchinae.
This new genus name combines the Latin words spatha (meaning sword) and spina (meaning spine), inspired by the beetle’s prominent spine.
The subfamily Ceutorhynchinae includes just over 1,300 species.
These beetles are found around the world, but not in New Zealand, Oceania, Antarctica and nearby islands, or southern South America (below central Argentina and Chile).
The greatest variety of these beetles is seen in the Palaearctic Region (Europe, North Africa, parts of Asia), followed by the Oriental Region (South and Southeast Asia).
Ceutorhynchinae beetles can be identified by their sturdy body, their ability to tuck their snout (rostrum) between their front legs when at rest, and the visibility of a part of their body (mesanepimera) from the back — except in a few genera like Cyphosenus and Ceutorhynchoides.
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