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If Carlsberg had made insects, they would likely have bottle-opener-shaped reproductive organs.
Although this was not one of the variations of the Danish brewery’s famous advertising slogan, there is some truth to it.
That’s because scientists have discovered a species of beetle in South America with male reproductive organs that can remove the cap from your favorite beer, they claim.
The insect’s sexual organs are so similar that they outline their shape and they plan to manufacture them as a small keychain for opening a bottle.
While researchers have no idea why this beetle’s penis evolved this way, its shape has earned the species the name Loncovilius carlsbergi.
While researchers have no idea why this beetle’s penis evolved this way, its shape earned it the name Loncovilius carlsbergi.
Drawing of the male reproductive organs of Oncophilius Carlsbergi, which in lateral (side) view look like a bottle opener (right)
The new species is one of six new Loncophilius beetles described in a study conducted by researchers from the Natural History Museum of Denmark at the University of Copenhagen.
As for why it is specifically named after Carlsberg rather than any other beer, research at the university was recently funded by the non-profit Carlsberg Foundation.
“This species is characterized, among other things, by the fact that the male sexual organ is remarkably similar to a bottle opener,” said study author Asleke Kapil Hansen from the Natural History Museum of Denmark.
“Therefore, we thought it obvious to dedicate this species to the Carlsberg Foundation, which has generously supported independent research for many years.
“Their support for various projects, expeditions or purchasing scientific instruments at the Natural History Museum of Denmark contributes to the discovery of new species on our planet.”
The researchers have designed a bottle opener in the form of an internal accessory, which they hope will go into production
In general, very little is known about Loncophilius beetles that live only in Chile and Argentina. But due to the fact that they live on flowers, they are considered quite special in their family, as the vast majority of predatory beetles live on the ground among dead leaves, under the bark or on fungi. Pictured is Loncophilius Carlsbergii
Loncophilius beetles are about 0.3 inches (1 cm) long, and live only in Chile and Argentina, both in the lowlands and at 8,500 feet (2,600 m) in the mountains.
One distinctive feature of beetles is that all their legs contain sticky bristles, while other predatory beetles have such bristles only on their front legs.
This makes it easier for the beetle to cling to things and climb flowers and plants, which may explain why it is found so high.
Unfortunately, due to the fact that they live on flowers, climate change will cause the population to shrink, researchers say.
Josh Jenkins Shaw, from the Natural History Museum of Denmark, said: “It is worrying that almost nothing is known about this type of beetle, especially when they are so easy to spot, and some of them are so beautiful.”
“Unfortunately, we could easily lose species like this before they are ever discovered.”
Other new species include Loncovilius barclayi, named after the eminent British entomologist Maxwell Barclay, and Loncovilius hammondi, after the late Peter Hammond, a former beetle specialist at the Natural History Museum in London.
They join other species in the Loncovilius genus, including Loncovilius edwardsianus, named after another British entomologist, Edward Ernest Green.
Loncovilius carlsbergi is one of six Loncovilius beetles described by researchers in a new paper. Another animal, Loncophilius edwardianus, is pictured crawling through foliage in the Valdivian temperate rainforest in Chiloe, Los Lagos, Chile.
The researchers hope that by immortalizing the Carlsberg beetle in stainless steel as a bottle opener, they will spark new interest in sex.
The researchers are now working on putting their bottle opener into production.
“We would like people around the world to talk about the crisis facing species on our planet,” Hansen said.
“A move toward serious learning and awareness may be stimulated by light conversation over a beer.”
The new study was published in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
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