Asbolus verrucosus LeConte, 1851, also known as the desert ironclad beetle or blue death feigning beetle, is a species of darkling beetle native to southwestern United States (southern California to Utah and New Mexico) and northwestern Mexico, where it inhabits dry, sandy habitats such as the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts. It is highly adapted to hot environments and is omnivorous, consuming dead insects, fruits, lichen, and other plant matter. When threatened, the beetles are able to feign death. A. verrucosus larvae may reflex bleed during their death-feigning ritual.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Desert Ironclad Beetle being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Cryptoglossa variolosa
- Cryptoglossa infausta
- Cryptoglossa muricata
- Philolithus aegrotus
- Microschatia inaequalis
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera
- Family
- Tenebrionidae
- Genus
- Asbolus
- Species
- Asbolus verrucosus
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