Yomiuri reports on an expensive beetle that needs protection:

The Environment Ministry has banned catching and trading a newly discovered species of stag beetle, effective Wednesday, to protect the insect from indiscriminate hunting, officials said.

The ministry made the decision after the revelation that the takaneruri kuwagata beetle, whose scientific name is Platycerus sue Imura, had been traded online. A pair of the insects was put up for auction on the Internet in January and traded for about 110,000 yen [about 1,100 USD], according to the ministry.

The one-centimeter-long insect, which was discovered by Yuki Imura, was revealed as a new species in November.

Ministry officials said the species is likely to go extinct unless steps are taken to protect the distinctly colored beetle–males have a turquoise metallic luster, while females are bronze-colored.

The insect is put under protection for three years starting from Wednesday under a law for the conservation of endangered species of wild fauna and flora, they added.