Since the 18th century, scientists from all over the world have been formally discovering and classifying species of animals and insects. However despite three centuries worth of taxonomy, it seems like there a team of are still creatures left to be discovered. For instance, just recently several new species of beetles have been discovered from the land down under.
Just this week, museum curator and scientist, Dr. Alexander Riedel, from the State Museum of Natural History Karlsruhe, and Rene Tanzler, from Zoological State Collection in Munich, uncovered twenty four beetles from the weevil genus Trigonopterus in a previously un-catalogued collection recovered almost thirty years ago.
According to the scientists, the new weevils hail from the tropical rainforests in northern Queensland, Australia. The twenty four beetles exclusively live in the area mostly due to their lack of wings.
"There are millions of species on our planet with whom we co-exist. What's most exciting for me is to make a few of these new forms of life visible to others as well" quipped Riedel in an interview with Live Science.
Most are interested as to why it took three decades before the beetles were classified. Both Reidel and Chris Reid, and entomologist from the Australian Museum in Sydney, were quick to give two reasons for the scientific delay.
According to Reid, it is very difficult to classify and catalogue Trigonopterus weevils. The scientist explains that not only do these beetles pretend to be seeds but most of them look exactly the same.
Reidel further clarifies that there a troves of species that are left to be discovered and only a few specialists with enough knowledge available to identify them.
"There are millions of unidentified insect specimens stored in collections around the world but only few people have the training necessary to identify those of special interest" explains Reidel.