Unwanted stowaway? Eight new beetle species found in Halifax

[00:00:00]Beetles are the most diverse group of organisms on the planet with over 400,000 described species worldwide with about 8,000 of those in Canada. 600 of them are not native to Canada.

[00:00:11]>> Just 4 years ago, world leaders committed to cutting the introduction of invasive species by 50% by 2030 in an effort to protect global biodiversity.

[00:00:21]>> One of the early ways to introduce beetles in Canada was that the Europeans would fill their boats with rocks and dirt from the near the ports so that they would have some weight.

[00:00:35]>> With all the European rocks, dirt, and soil ending up on the Canadian shoreline, new beetles and insects have been arriving, too, since the 1600s.

[00:00:43]Aside from that, they can arrive in the soil of plants imported from various countries. Beetles can also hide in fruits like grapes until they arrive in Canada. New species are discovered all the time, but a recent study done in the port city of Halifax discovered eight species of European beetles that were previously unknown to be present in Canada.

[00:01:01]>> Bouchard says those include weevils, which are a plant-feeding species.

[00:01:05]>> Some are feeding on weeds, so they might actually help us, in a way.

[00:01:11]But, uh, one is, uh, pest in, uh, Europe. And so, we don't want to bring a new pest here, and so we will have to monitor this, uh, with our colleagues.

[00:01:21]>> The findings will be published in the Coleopterists Bulletin.