Just in time for Valentine's Day, scientists have discovered a new group of beetles that possess a heart-shaped leg joint and a single goal in their lives - to reproduce. The genus, Ivierhipidius, gives new meaning to wearing your heart on your sleeve and was discovered by Max Barclay of the Natural History Museum after he spotted two winged male specimens among the thousands that he collected on a trip to Central America.
The unique family possesses a heart-shaped trochanter, which is the part of the upper leg that connects it to the abdomen and has not been witnessed in any other type of beetle. While humans possess a body part called the "greater trochanter," it is not in the same unique heart shape as this new family of beetles, according to Discovery News.
Barclay's collection, which includes more than half of the 400,000 known beetle species, making it the largest and most comprehensive in the world, now contains four new species from the genus: Ivierhipidius paradoxus, Ivierhipidius monneorum, Ivierhipidius Youngi, and Ivierhipidius cechorum.
"All of the specimens so far have been male - we have yet to see a female," Barclay said. "Its closest relatives are parasites developing inside other insects."
"We don't yet know what its heart-shaped joint is used for, but we do know that the males don't even have a functional mouth to eat, so their only purpose is to search for mates," he added. "They certainly have a one-track mind."
Beetles are the largest group of organisms on the planet and play a critical role in the maintenance of healthy ecosystems, making research on them all the more important. Previous research points to their importance in reducing weeds in soil and improving food security in the agriculture industry, according to Science Daily.
"One in five of living creatures is a beetle, and we are still uncovering new species today, even some with new modifications of body parts that disclose more about their evolution and way of life," Barclay said.
