Omorgus Khandesh

Why in news?

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

About Omorgus Khandesh:

• Omorgus Khandesh (also called a keratin beetle) is a beetle species.
• It is necrophagous.
  • 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.

• The beetles of this group are sometimes called hide beetles as they tend to cover their body under the soil and hide.

Add ons:

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

PRACTICE QUESTION

‘Omorgus Khandesh’, recently seen in news, refers to:

(a) A beetle species

(b) A mangrove species

(c) A butterfly species

(d) A fungal species

Answer