Beetle takes on
mythical hero’s name
|
 Pella glooscap |
 Euvira micmac |
Pella
glooscapi is the
second beetle to
be given a name
from Native
culture.
It is just 3.5
millimeters long
and was
discovered in
the mulch of
highbush
blueberry
fields.
The other is
Euvira micmac
which was named
in 2007 for the
Mi’kmaq people.
The spelling was
changed because
Latin is the
language used
when naming the
world's plants
and creatures.
Latin does not
have an
apostrophe mark.
( ' )
“Both
Pella glooscapi
and Euvira
micmac were
named in honor
of the Native
people here and
their long
traditions and
knowledge of the
natural world,”
said Chris Majka
from Nova Scotia
Museum of
Natural History.
“They have a
tremendous
familiarity with
many of the
animals and the
plants that are
found here and
have a spiritual
kinship with
them, so it’s an
opportunity to
honor that long
connection by
christening a
beetle after
Glooscap.”
In
1865's
“Kitchi-Gami:
Life Among The
Lake Superior
Ojibway,”
ethnographer
Johann Georg
Kohl noticed the
Ojibway named
everything in
their world,
even “the most
useless things
flitting about.”
Sadly, those
names have often
been lost
because of
efforts to
eradicate Native
languages.
Glooscap was a
creation figure
of great size.
The spiritual
leader brought
the Mi’kmaq
knowledge of
fire, tobacco
and canoes,
among other
things.
Glooscap also
formed the
area's
geographical
features.
Nova Scotia was
his bed, and
Prince Edward
Island was his
pillow.
“Very close to
where these
beetles were
found, there are
five islands,”
Majka said, “and
there’s a story
that there was a
giant beaver
that dammed a
river and
flooded an area.
... In
irritation,
Glooscap threw
mud and stones
at the beaver to
chase him off
and those mud
and stones
landed in the
bay and made the
islands.”
The British scientist J. B. S. Haldane once said that the Creator must have had “an inordinate fondness for beetles.” Beetles are the most biodiverse group, and have more species, of any animal in the world.
Maja estimates the numbers of species run in the millions. So far, 400,000 have been found.
“They’re
highly diverse
and very
resilient. They
are arguably one
of the most
evolutionarily
successful
creatures of all
time. And
we are the
richer for
that,” he said.
Native
Village Home Page