Lateral view of a new species of a rugged, and hairy, darkling beetle - Stenomorpha roosevelti - named in honor of Theodore Roosevelt on the 100th anniversary of a speech he gave at Tempe Normal School, now Arizona State University, on March 20, 1911. The new species of beetle, covered in thick dark hair with golden setal pads on tarsal segments of legs, was discovered in the protected area of Cuatro Ciénegas, a biodiversity-rich oasis in Coahuila, Mexico. It was discovered and named by Aaron Smith, a postdoctoral research associate at ASU; Kelly Miller, an assistant professor and curator of arthropods for the Museum of Southwestern Biology at the University of New Mexico; and Quentin Wheeler, a professor and founding director of the International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University. Credit: Rebecca Dornburg / International Institute for Species Exploration, Arizona State University
(麻豆淫院Org.com) -- A new species of a rugged darkling beetle that thrives in an arid region of the Chihuahuan Desert is being named in honor of Theodore Roosevelt on the 100th anniversary of a speech he gave at Tempe Normal School, now Arizona State University. The speech, delivered March 20, 1911, focused on the role of government, the importance of an educated citizenry, and the 鈥渇ar-sighted wisdom鈥� of the Territory of Arizona.
The new species of beetle, Stenomorpha roosevelti, covered in thick dark hair with golden setal pads on tarsal segments of legs, was discovered in the protected area of Cuatro Ci茅negas, a biodiversity-rich oasis in Coahuila, Mexico. It was discovered and named by Aaron Smith, an authority on darkling beetles and a postdoctoral research associate at ASU; Kelly Miller, an assistant professor and curator of arthropods for the Museum of Southwestern Biology at the University of New Mexico; and Quentin Wheeler, a professor and founding director of the International Institute for Species Exploration at ASU.
鈥淲e wanted to do something distinct and long lasting to mark Roosevelt鈥檚 impact on Arizona and conservation as we ramp up to the state centennial next year,鈥� said Wheeler, an ASU vice president and dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
According to Douglas Brinkley鈥檚 book, 鈥淭he Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America,鈥� it was Roosevelt鈥檚 executive orders that saved such natural treasures as Devils Tower, the Petrified Forest, and Arizona鈥檚 Grand Canyon.
鈥淣aming a new species for President Roosevelt honors his achievements as a pioneering conservationist, naturalist and explorer, and helps us bring attention to biodiversity and the field of taxonomy. The ruggedness of this darkling beetle reflects many of the hardy and resilient characteristics of President Roosevelt,鈥� said Wheeler.
Roosevelt has had a number of species and subspecies named in his honor, including an elk, shrew, mollusk, worm and ant, according to Wheeler. 鈥淭o this list of honors we are pleased to add this rugged and dashing new species of beetle.鈥�
The announcement of the new species named for Roosevelt was made March 21 during a commemoration ceremony at ASU鈥檚 Old Main, the site of the former president鈥檚 speech 100 years ago. Roosevelt was in Arizona at the time to dedicate a new dam on the Salt River that was named in his honor.
Roosevelt is not the first US president to have a beetle named by Wheeler and Miller. The pair of entomologists has named new species in honor of former President George W. Bush, former Vice President Dick Cheney, and former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (Agathidium bushi, A. cheneyi and A. rumsfeldi). They also named beetles for the late rock 鈥榥' roll legend Roy Orbison and his widow Barbara (Orectochilus orbisonorum); for fictional "Star Wars" character Darth Vader (Agathidium vaderi); and for Stephen Colbert, the satirical host and executive producer of Comedy Central鈥檚 鈥淭he Colbert Report鈥� (Agaporomorphus colberti).
Provided by Arizona State University
