The giant beetle species thought to be extinct in the eastern United States has been discovered alive.
This enormous insect is believed to have vanished for at least half a century, but it was recently spotted outside a Walmart supermarket in Arkansas.
The identification of the giant beetle – Polystoechotes punctata still existing has excited scientists, raising speculation that they may have nested and hidden in remote areas of the Ozark Mountains.
Polystoechotes punctatus, a giant beetle from the dinosaur era, has disappeared from North America.
Michael Skvarla, director of the insect identification lab at Penn State, shared that he discovered this giant beetle back in 2012 while still a PhD student at the University of Arkansas.
“I vividly remember walking into Walmart to get milk when I spotted this giant insect.” – Michael Skvarla stated.
In another article published in the Proceedings of the Washington Entomological Society, Skvarla noted that the specimen of this insect had been mislabelled as “ant lion,” a species with similar characteristics.
Polystoechotes punctata was once abundant in North America but is believed to have been wiped out from eastern regions during the 1950s. This species has a shape resembling a cross between a fly and a moth, with spotted wings resembling a tent on its body.
The reason for this insect’s long disappearance remains a mystery. Possible explanations include light pollution due to urbanization and the emergence of species such as ground beetles that prey on the giant beetle or earthworms, which may alter soil density.
The prevention of wildfires in the eastern region could also play a role, as this giant beetle depends on the ecological changes that occur after such fires.
