Blue Death Feigning Beetle – The Lawrence Hall of Science

The Lawrence Hall of Science

Asbolus verrucosus

Blue Death Feigning Beetle

Scavenger: Eats rotting animal, plants, seeds and fungus

Geography: Southwestern United States, Mexico

Habitat: Desert

Interesting facts:

Their blue-ish tint comes from a wax they secrete to prevent dehydration
They roll over on their backs to play dead when predators approach them
They are a nocturnal species and characterized by their small appearance
Unlike other Darkling Beetles, they do not secrete venomous chemicals to ward off predators
They can play dead for hours if circumstances arise to do so
They have rows of bumps on the doral exterior surface that run parallel across the body

This macro image shows a detailed view of an Asbolus beetle, a type of darkling beetle. The beetle is about 1 inch in length and has a dark blue or black exoskeleton with rough, warty bumps on its elytra (hardened forewings).

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