UC Berkeley entomologist Kipling Will recently rediscovered a long-missing beetle species, Bembidion brownorum, during an insect sampling expedition on former Governor Jerry Brown’s ranch in Colusa County, California. This species had not been observed by scientists since 1966. Will, motivated by Brown’s invitation to researchers, found the beetle near Freshwater Creek, where he frequently sampled insects over the past two years. The discovery marks a significant contribution to understanding California’s underexplored insect biodiversity.
The beetle measures about 5 millimeters and has a unique prothorax shape, distinguishing it from known species. Its habitat is threatened due to urbanization and agricultural development, which likely contributed to its decline. The species is named in honor of Jerry and Anne Brown, underscoring the importance of their ranch in facilitating scientific research.
There are only 21 historical specimens of Bembidion brownorum in museum collections, emphasizing the necessity of preserving such specimens for future research. Will and co-author David Maddison highlight that many undiscovered species exist, stressing the urgency of documenting biodiversity to combat extinction rates. The discovery was published in the journal Zookeys.
