Nicagus occultus
This record describes Nicagus occultus (species). Recorded family: Lucanidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
PARATYPE News Release - Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. Dec. 5, 2005 New Beetle Species Discovered at State Park AUSTIN, Texas - Sometimes even the most well-trod ground can yield surprises. That was the case in May when a graduate student identified a species of stag beetle that is new to science while visiting Monahans Sandhills State Park. Aaron Smith ... noticed the insects at the top of a dune one evening while tagging along on a University of Texas undergraduate field trip. I wasn’t sure what they were until I put them under a ’scope, said Smith, now a Ph.D. student in entomology at Texas A&M University. Smith collected all of the beetles he saw and took them back to Nebraska, where he was then studying. His lab mate, Matt Paulsen, specializes in stag beetles and immediately recognized the insects for what they were not: anything previously known to science. The discovery prompted an 850-mile road trip the very next day, and after Paulsen returned with still more specimens, he and Smith published a paper describing their find in the scientific journal Zootaxa. Texas Parks & Wildlife considers this to be a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN)
Identification notes
PARATYPE
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Scarabaeoidea
- Family
- Lucanidae (Stag Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Aesalinae
- Genus
- Nicagus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
unvegetated sand dunes (Paulsen & Smith 2005)
Geographic Range
This new species was described from the Monahans Sandhills, Ward Co. of western Texas. (Paulsen & Smith 2005)
Seasonal Activity
May to June (most in June) (Paulsen & Smith 2005)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Nicagus occultus Paulsen & Smith, 2005
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Nicagus occultus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Nicagus occultus (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by George Waldren; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , nebbeetle
Frequently Asked Questions About Nicagus occultus
What is Nicagus occultus?
Nicagus occultus is a species in the family Lucanidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Nicagus occultus?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | 5.8–7.9 mm. - males |
| Length | 6.6–9.4 mm. - females |
How do you identify Nicagus occultus?
PARATYPE
Where is Nicagus occultus found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | unvegetated sand dunes (Paulsen & Smith 2005) |
| Range | This new species was described from the Monahans Sandhills, Ward Co. of western Texas. (Paulsen & Smith 2005) |
When is Nicagus occultus active?
Nicagus occultus: seasonal activity - May to June (most in June) (Paulsen & Smith 2005).