Coptomma marrisi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coptomma marrisi |
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| Holotype | |
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Chrysomeloidea
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Cerambycinae
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Coptomma
Newman, 1840
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C. marrisi
Song & Wang, 2003
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Coptomma marrisi is a special type of longhorn beetle. It is only found on Great Island. This island is part of the Three Kings Islands in New Zealand.
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Discovering the Coptomma marrisi Beetle
Scientists Deping Song and Qiao Wang studied a group of beetles called Coptomma. They found a new species, which they named Coptomma marrisi.
This new beetle was discovered from a male and female specimen. These were collected by John Marris, an entomologist from Lincoln University. He found them during a trip to the Three Kings Islands in 1996.
The scientists named the beetle marrisi to honor John Marris. He was the person who collected the main specimen, called the holotype.
What Does Coptomma marrisi Look Like?
This beetle looks a lot like another longhorn beetle, C. lineatum. That beetle lives all over mainland New Zealand.
C. marrisi has some unique features. It has a wide forehead, called a frons. It also has a stripe on its thorax that has no hairs. Its femurs, which are parts of its legs, are reddish-brown.
Female C. marrisi beetles are about 15 mm long. Males are a bit smaller, around 11–12 mm long. Their bodies are reddish-brown. They have four long yellow stripes on each of their wing covers.
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Side view of the beetle.
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Bottom view of the beetle.
Where Does Coptomma marrisi Live?
This beetle species is only known to live on Great Island. Great Island is one of the Three Kings Islands.
The Three Kings Islands have been separated from the main land of New Zealand for a very long time. This separation happened since the Miocene epoch. Because of this, many unique species live there. C. marrisi might have developed and survived only on Great Island.
Adult C. marrisi beetles were found on plants near the coast. They were often seen on Kunzea plants in December. Scientists do not yet know what other plants they might use as hosts.
Protecting Coptomma marrisi
The Department of Conservation has not yet checked for threats to this beetle. Other species on the Three Kings Islands are considered "Naturally Uncommon." This means they are not found in many places.
