A new beetle has been discovered, and it might just remind you of one of your beloved Star Wars characters…
Ok, so it may be a long stretch, but scientists have discovered a weevil in New Guinea that they say reminds them of Chewbacca from Star Wars. How did they make the connection? They have explained that the dense scales on the weevil’s legs and head are what really reminded them of the shaggy Wookiee.
The weevil which has been named Trigonopterus chewbacca is flightless and is found in forests. Measuring 0.13 inches in length, it is black in colour with yellow hair covering most of its body. It was one of four different weevils to be found during the venture to New Guinea however none of the others were bestowed with such a cool name.
Weevils are beetles that occur in a wide range of colours and shapes. The species can range anywhere from 3mm to 10mm in length and have a head which elongates to form a snout. Wevils can attack anything from fields and crops while others get into stored grain, flour and seeds. Although it seems strange, studying weevils is an important contribution to our knowledge of the world around us. They are one of the planet’s most diverse groups of insects.
Although we love the name, this isn’t the first time scientists have drawn inspiration from Star Wars for names of new discoveries. In 1983, for example, there was a wasp described as Polemistus chewbacca. Even Yoda has been honored with a worm named after the character called a Yoda purpurata. However probably one of our favourites is the Trigonopterus attenboroughi– a type of weevil named after British naturalist Sir David Attenborough. In fact, the naturalist has a whole list of scientific discoveries named after him. Other celebrities and notable people whose namesake are used in discoveries include Nelson Mandela, Bob Marley and even Angelina Jolie.
Photo Credit | Live Science