Rare insect found at Arkansas Walmart sets historic record

[pellinore]

A giant insect plucked from the façade of an Arkansas Walmart has set historic records. The Polystoechotes punctata (giant lacewing) is the first of its kind recorded in eastern North America in over 50 years—and the first record of the species ever in the state.

The giant lacewing was formerly widespread across North America, but was mysteriously extirpated from eastern North America by the 1950s. This discovery suggests there may be relic populations of this large, Jurassic-Era insect yet to be discovered, explained Michael Skvarla, director of Penn State's Insect Identification Lab.

Rare insect found at Arkansas Walmart sets historic record, points to deeper ecological questions (phys.org)

Edited February 28, 2023 by pellinore

[pellinore]

This  article  doesn't make it clear, but the giant lacewing was found alive, after being thought extinct for 50 years. It is now hoped the relic of the Jurassic Period is still surviving in some colonies.

Giant Jurassic-era insect rediscovered outside Walmart in Arkansas | Insects | The Guardian

[Territtuk]

So something strange and rare and then kill it. nice.

[Crabby Kitten]

1 hour ago, Territtuk said:

So something strange and rare and then kill it. nice.

It really bothers me when people kill beautiful rare insects just to have it displayed.  

[pellinore]

On 3/7/2023 at 11:20 AM, Territtuk said:

So something strange and rare and then kill it. nice.

 

On 3/7/2023 at 12:38 PM, Crabby Kitten said:

It really bothers me when people kill beautiful rare insects just to have it displayed.  

People kill animals just because they can. It is very puzzling. I suppose if a species is on the edge of extinction, you have to take the last chance you might have to kill it, otherwise it will be gone forever.

The greater koa finch, an innocuous member of the honeycreeper family, lurked shyly in the canopies of koa trees, but if someone imitated its song it would abandon its cover at once and fly down in a show of welcome. The last of the species vanished in 1896, killed by Rothschild’s ace collector Harry Palmer, five years after the disappearance of its cousin the lesser koa finch, a bird so sublimely rare that only one has ever been seen: the one shot for Rothschild’s collection.

Goodbye - SIX: THE ROAD TO US - A Short History of Nearly Everything - by Bill Bryson - World History (erenow.net)

Edited March 14, 2023 by pellinore