This story is from July 31, 2018

Kerala girl discovers rare beetle in the UK

Kerala girl discovers rare beetle in the UK
KOTTAYAM: A 10-year-old girl, a native of Kerala, discovered a rare beetle in the UK which has now become part of the collections at Oxford University Museum of Natural History. It was Sarah Thomas, daughter of Thomas John and Betty Thomas who found the beetle while taking part in the insect initiative of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. The 5mm specimen was later placed under a microscope and identified as a False Darkling Beetle by Darren Mann, a professional entomologist and head of the Museum’s Life Collections.
“It’s Anisoxya fuscula, which is rated as Nationally Scare in Great Britain,” says Darren Mann in a press note released by the Museum of Natural History of the University of Oxford.
“We seldom see these outside old forest habitats and this is the first beetle of its kind to be added to the collections for around 70 years,” he added.
Sarah Thomas from Abbey Woods Academy found the rare False Darkling Beetle in her school grounds as part of the Museum’s Project Insect visit. The specimen of Anisoxya fuscula is now pinned and in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History collections, complete with label. Given its tiny size and the rarity outside of forest habitats, Sarah's find is all the more impressive.
“Before Project Insect I didn’t really like insects, but now I really do,” said Sarah, after her find was added to the Museum collections.
Sarah is the third child of Thomas John, Muvattupuzha native, and Betty Thomas, Kottayam native, who are settled in the UK for the past 15 years. John is into business and Betty is a clinical lead nurse. The couple who resides in Oxford in the UK have two more children, elder one John Thomas who is doing Automotive Engineering and Ann Thomas doing her class 12.
"Sarah had found the rare beetle on July 18 and was accredited on July 24," said Betty Thomas. The family makes it a point to visit the native once a year.
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