A remarkable teratological case for Eucymatodera parva Schenkling, 1908 (Cleridae : Tillinae) from Namibia

Abstract

Teratology can be defined as the study of the causes producing abnormalities, malformations or defects of the physical development (Ujházy et al. 2012). Teratological examples have been described in almost all animal groups, including insects (Ferrer et al. 2014). The importance of reporting teratological events in insects has been discussed by Glasgow (1925), Cockayne (1937) and Savini & Furth (2004). Glasgow (1925) stated that insect malformations should be documented to make these cases available to investigators who may have a special interest in such events. Cockayne (1937) mentioned that, even if the observed teratologies do not represent something novel, it seems desirable to publish these descriptions accompanied by plates illustrating the nature of the abnormality. Savini&Furth (2004) in their discussion of malformations in Coleoptera, stressed the importance of recording insect abnormalities, indicating that, in some cases, these abnormalities offer valuable information about the influence of environmental conditions during insect development.