rss
Arizona bug
October 17, 2009
I found this bug on my front porch. Any ideas?
Matt
Sun City, Arizona
Acrobat Beetle
Hi Matt,
This is a species of Darkling Beetle in the genus Eleodes which are known as Stink Beetles or sometimes Acrobat Beetles because of their habit of sticking their hind ends in the air and releasing an odor meant to deter predators.
Weird bug from Texas
September 14, 2009
First of all, it is a white bug – which I’ve never seen before, and I’ve lived in Texas more than 5 years, and this is the first time I’ve run across anything that looks remotely like it.
I know that everything is supposed to be bigger in Texas, but this is a rediculously large terminte-looking creature.
Um.. what is it?
BrightKite
Forth Worth, Texas
Ironclad Beetle
Hello BrightKite,
There should be no confusing the distinctive coloration and pattern of this Ironclad Beetle, Zopherus nodulosus, with any other species. The coloration of the Cottonwood Borer is similar, but the structural anatomy is strikingly different. According to BugGuide, this Ironclad Beetle is: “Endemic to East-Central Texas.“
Zopherus?
August 30, 2009
Hi Bugman,
This beetle was crossing my living room carpet about 7 pm on 29 August in NE Tucson, AZ. I searched my guides to no avail, but a reference on your site to BugGuide helped me match the shapes and textures of the thorax and abdomen to two Zopherus images, but no exact match. Is it a Zopherus, and if so, which species?
I took the pictures through a ‘bug buddy’ no-harm insect relocator, but after 10-15 minutes (no heat, no flash) it stopped moving and didn’t respond when I set it outside. Was it playing possum?
Thanks for a great site. I’ve enjoyed the pics and the exchanges.
Holly
Northeast Tucson, Arizona
Death Feigning Beetle
Hi Holly,
We agree with you that this appears to be an Ironclad Beetle in the genus Zopherus, and that it does not exactly match the specimens posted on BugGuide, though it seems closest to Zopherus tristis. We will contact Eric Eaton to try to get some assistance with this positive identification. In our experience, members of this genus are known to feign death.
Death Feigning Beetle
Correction by Eric Eaton
August 31, 2009
Daniel:
“Ironclad beetle” is actually a “death-feigning beetle,” Cryptoglossa variolosa.
… Hope that helps.
Eric
What’s That Bug? and BugGuide query Update:
Good morning Daniel,
Thanks for your reply! I really enjoyed my hours looking through your site and reading the comments, and the BugGuide site. I’m glad to hear that I probably didn’t witness or cause its demise. The beetle was gone in the morning, but I have a robust little ecosystem here, and anything that doesn’t skeedaddle gets eaten; nothing goes to waste. I look forward to hearing what Eric has to say.
Is your site related to the BugGuide site? I mean administered by the same people? Since they don’t seem to have an exact match, I’d gladly contribute my photo to expand the library once the little critter is identified.
Holly
Hi Holly,
The biggest connection between BugGuide and What’s That Bug? is the fact that the awesome Eric Eaton contributes considerably to both sites. BugGuide also provided a valuable resource for insect identification and What’s That Bug? frequently links to BugGuide to provide our own readership with additional information. What’s That Bug? has also submitted some images to BugGuide, but now we as that our readership posts the images without our intervention. The greatest difference between the two sites (which truly are unrelated) is that the readership posts items to BugGuide and our limited editorial staff posts items to What’s That Bug?. We hope that answers your questions.
What Type of Beetle is this
Thu, Apr 30, 2009 at 8:42 AM
This was found on my back decl in Northern Nevada a couple days ago. It has a hard body and looks like it walks high. The deck is open air but has a sun cover over it to block the sun and the bug was under the shaded part
Lisa
Yerrington, Nevada USA
Stink Beetle or Acrobat Beetle
Hi Lisa,
This lumbering beetle is a Darkling Beetle in the genus Eleodes. There are numerous species in the genus found in arid regions of the Southwest, and we are not skilled enough to differentiate the species from one another. These beetles are commonly called Stink Beetles because they emit an odor as a defense mechanism. Because of their habit of standing on their head with the rear end elevated when disturbed, they are also called Acrobat Beetles.
