Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Species in news
Why in News?
A new species of beetle named in honour of Gerald Durrell has been found in Madagascar.
It is a newly described species of ant-like flower beetle.
Family – Anthicidae
Honour – It was named in 2025 to honour the renowned British naturalist Gerald Durrell, reflecting his deep connection to Madagascar’s conservation legacy.
This beetle joins several other species already named after Durrell, including
Salanoia durrelli (a carnivoran from Madagascar) and
Centrolene durrellorum (a glassfrog from Ecuador).
Habitat – It is found in Madagascar, a country central to Durrell’s conservation work.
Ecological Role –Like other Anthicidae, these beetles are small, ant-like, and often found in leaf litter, flowers, or sandy habitats, playing roles in decomposition and pollination.
Significance – It expands knowledge of Madagascar’s insect fauna, which is highly endemic and honours Gerald Durrell, who championed wildlife conservation and founded the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
Key facts about genus Macratria
Appearance & Movement– These beetles have a constricted neck and narrow posterior end of the pronotum, which, combined with their active, short-legged gait, gives them an appearance and movement similar to ants.
Diversity & Habitat –The genus Macratria contains over 320 species found on every continent except Antarctica, with a high concentration in tropical regions.
Diet – Adult and larval antlike flower beetles are typically omnivorous, feeding on small arthropods, pollen, fungi, and vegetative debris.
