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99% Invisible

A Beetle By Any Other Name

Mar 4, 2025
Andrei Kapla, a researcher at the Slovenian National Institute of Biology, dives into the world of cave ecology and the infamous Anophthalmus beetle. He discusses the hazards of spelunking in Slovenia’s Pekal Cave, which hides this unique, eyeless creature. The podcast explores the tumultuous ethical debates around species naming, particularly the controversial Anophthalmus hitlery. Kapla also addresses the alarming links between poaching of this endangered beetle and far-right extremism, raising questions about conservation and the implications of historical legacies.
28:18

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The controversial naming of Hitler's beetle exemplifies the ethical dilemmas in scientific nomenclature and its reflection of societal values.
  • Debates over renaming species highlight the tension between honoring historical contributions and addressing contemporary ethical concerns in biology.

Deep dives

The Name of a Beetle: Anophthalmus hitlery

The beetle known as Anophthalmus hitlery, or Hitler's beetle, represents a controversial naming practice in the biological sciences that has come under scrutiny. Discovered in 1932, the beetle was initially named to honor a prominent entomologist, but the name took a dark turn due to the entomologist's association with Adolf Hitler. The naming choice has led to ongoing debates regarding the ethics of naming species after objectionable figures. There is a growing call among some scientists to change such names, arguing that they inadvertently celebrate figures with negatively impactful legacies.

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