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New beetle named after Greta Thunberg

28-10-2019 < Blacklisted News 17 146 words
 

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A newly discovered species of beetle has been named after young climate activist Greta Thunberg.


Nelloptodes gretae bears little resemblance to its namesake - it is less than 1mm long, and has no wings or eyes.


The insect does, however, have two long pigtail-like antennae.


Scientist Dr Michael Darby said he chose the name because he was "immensely impressed" by the Swedish teenager’s environmental campaigning.


N. gretae was first found in Kenya in the 1960s by William Block, who donated his samples to the Natural History Museum in London in 1978. It has been held in one of the museum’s collections since.


Dr Darby was studying this collection when he came across the then-nameless species.


By naming the beetle after Ms Thunberg, he said, he "wanted to acknowledge her outstanding contribution in raising awareness of environmental issues".


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