Phosphuga is a Eurasian genus of flightless carrion beetle, whose sole member is the species Phosphuga atrata, commonly known as black snail beetle. Up to 15mm long, they have an oval shape as adults and are brownish in color when newly moulted, becoming black as their exoskeleton hardens. Black snail beetles resemble (and are presumably closely related to and sometimes even included in) the type genus Silpha of the carrion beetle subfamily Silphinae, and are thus placed in tribe Silphini. Although they range widely, they are seldom encountered by people, because they hunt at night and hide during the day, often under bark.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Black snail 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.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera
- Family
- Staphylinidae
- Genus
- Phosphuga
- Species
- Phosphuga atrata
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