Meet ‘Omorgus Khandesh’, a newly discovered Indian beetle: It can help forensic science

Source: The post is based on the article “Meet ‘Omorgus Khandesh’, a newly discovered Indian beetle: It can help forensic science” published in Down To Earth on 17th February 2023

What is the News?

A new beetle species named Omorgus Khandesh has been discovered in India.

What is Omorgus Khandesh?

Omorgus Khandesh is a beetle species.

It is necrophagous and is, therefore, also called a keratin beetle. 

– Note: Necrophagy is the feeding behaviour of an organism that eats dead or decaying animal flesh that it did not kill. Insects exhibiting this behaviour include burying beetles, wasps and blowflies.

Features: 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 the dirt.

– Their bumpy appearance is distinct, with short, dense setae all over the body.

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