| Excastra | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Cerambycidae |
| Tribe: | Desmiphorini |
| Genus: | Excastra Tweed, Ashman & Ślipiński, 20241 |
| Species: | E. albopilosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Excastra albopilosa Tweed, Ashman & Ślipiński, 20241
| |
Excastra is a genus of beetles in the family Cerambycidae. It is monotypic, with only species Excastra albopilosa.1 The beetle is furry, and is thought to have evolved to mimic an insect that has been killed by a fungus, as a way of deterring predators.2
The holotype of Excastra albopilosa is the only known specimen and measures 9.7 mm (0.38 in) in total length.1
References
References
- Tweed, James M.H.; Ashman, Lauren G.; Ślipiński, Adam (2024). "Excastra albopilosa, a remarkable new genus and species of Lamiinae (Insecta: Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from southeastern Queensland, Australia" (PDF). Australian Journal of Taxonomy. 54: 1–8. doi:10.54102/ajt.iv1x5. ISSN 2653-4649. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- Turnbull, Tiffanie (21 March 2024). "Newly discovered Australian beetle almost mistaken for bird poo". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 21 March 2024.