Ground Beetles (Carabidae) are large, usually carnivorous Beetles, abundant across much of the globe. They are able to defend themselves by secreting noxious or caustic chemicals from glands on their abdomens (Bombardier Beetles are Carabids). Larger species are often unable to fly. Ground Beetles have a fossil record dating back to the Triassic; there are around 40 000 described extant species.
In a paper published in the journal ZooKeys on 19 February 2014, Jianmei Pang and Mingyi Tian of the Department of Entomology at the College of Natural Resources and Environment at South China Agricultural University, describe a new species of Ground Beetle from the Zhushan Dong II limestone cave in Wanzhai County, Jiangxi Province, China.
The new species is placed in the genus Morimotoidius, and given the specific name zhushandong, which derives directly from the name of the cave where it was discovered. Morimotoidius zhushandong is a slender, elongate Ground Beetle reaching 11.5-12.5 mm in length. It apparently lives only bellow ground, but unlike many trogloditic (cave dwelling) species, it retains a dark brown pigmentation and functional eyes.
Morimotoidius zhushandong, male specimen. Pang & Tian (2014).
Maps showing the location of the cave where Morimotoidius zhushangdong was discovered. Pang & Tian (2014).
Zhushan Dong II cave. (16) Entrance (17–18) Cave walls where the type specimens were collected. (19) An adult of Morimotoidius zhushandong running on cave ceiling. Pang & Tian (2014).
Maps showing the location of the cave where Morimotoidius zhushangdong was discovered. Pang & Tian (2014).
See also A new species of Ground Beetle from Mexico, A blind, cave dwelling, Ground Beetle from Anatolian Turkey and Two new species of Ground Beetle from the Pyranees.
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