Subject: The Bumpy Beetle
Geographic location of the bug: Surprise, Arizona
Date: 07/17/2019
Time: 01:18 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: I saw this guy walking across a sheet I use to protect plants from the Arizona sun. I have never seen one like it in our yard (and we have a variety of insects).
How you want your letter signed: Alison
Dear Alison,
We believe we have correctly identified this Darkling Beetle in the family Tenebrionidae as a Desert Ironclad Beetle, Asbolus verrucosus, thanks to this BugGuide image. According to BugGuide: “When startled, the beetle will fall over and feign death with legs up in the air, and become extremely rigid. After a while will begin moving and right itself. Increasingly popular in pet trade.” The species is also pictured on Arizona Beetles Bugs Birds and more.