By Thomas Page
I was on a tour of Skyline Caverns
In Virginia with my family when
The tour-guide showed us a standing body
Of water. She pointed at it and said,
“This may look like a boring part of the
Cave, but there are many discoveries
Found here. For example, a species of
Snail only found in Germany was found
In this water. We don’t know why they were
Here. Another was a species found here
Only in the 1950s by the
Smithsonian. The three scientists took
A water sample of this lake to their
Lab in Washington, D.C. When they looked
Through their microscopes, they saw seven specks,
Which they called dirt. However, they were not.
They were a brand-new, never-before-seen
Species of beetle called, which I practiced,
Pseudanophthalmus petrunkevitchi.
We just call them skyline beetles, others
Valentine beetles. There were seven of
Them in the water sample but they were
Dead. The scientists went back to the cave
But no more skyline beetles were ever
Found.” She waited for a moment and said,
“The beetles had never been exposed to
Light so when they were taken out of the
Cave, they died instantly. An entire
Species discovered, named, and wiped out in
A single day.” A paused beat. One, two, three.
“Let’s move on to next part of our tour.”
