Blue Death-Feigning BeetleAsbolus verrucosus
Quick facts
- Rarity
- Common
- Active during
- Night
- Found in
- Dusty Canyons
- Length
- 1 in
- Wingspan
- 1.3 in
From the field notes
Diet
These scavengers spend their evenings munching on dry fallen leaves, fruit, and even the remains of other insects. They never need to drink standing water, extracting all the hydration they require from their scavenged meals.
Death Feigning Defense
When threatened, they instantly flip onto their backs, stiffen their legs in the air, and play completely dead. This flawless act convinces predators that the beetle is just a dry, unappetizing husk.
Sunscreen
The blue hue of its shell is a specialized wax the beetle secretes through its pores. This waxy coating acts as a built-in sunscreen and seals in precious moisture to keep the insect from dehydrating in the desert heat.
Lifespan
Between its moisture-sealing wax, uncrushable armor, and acting skills, this little desert survivor is practically invincible. They are known to live for 8-10 years.
Flightless Beetle
Although the beetle has wing covers, they are completely fused together, meaning it cannot fly. However, this fusing locks out the drying wind and makes the insect almost uncrushable.