Omorgus Khandesh: Keratin Bettle

February 17, 2023

A new beetle species named Omorgus Khandesh has been discovered in a remote district of north Maharashtra. The beetle is important for forensic science as it helps detect the time of death of an animal or human.
It is necrophagous (eats dead or decaying animal flesh) and is, therefore, also called a keratin beetle. The new species belongs to the Trogidae family. With the addition of this new species, now there are a total of 14 extant species of this family in India.
The beetles of this group are sometimes called hide beetles as they tend to cover their body under the soil and hide. They are usually black or grey and encrusted in the dirt. Their bumpy appearance is distinct, with short, dense setae all over the body.