Desert ironclad beetle
Meet the desert ironclad beetle in the Great Vivarium at the Insectarium.
Desert ironclad beetles are found from the southwestern United States to northern Mexico. Their body has a texture similar to hammered iron and shows a bluish sheen.
Their fused, rigid wings and the rest of their exoskeleton form an effective barrier against water loss, allowing them to survive in desert conditions.
These beetles’ blue colour comes from a pigmented wax they secrete on their body’s surface. In fact, their exoskeleton is entirely black. This wax provides effective protection from the sun’s rays.
The beetle family is a diverse and dominant group in arid ecosystems. For example, in the northern Mojave Desert (California), the biomass of the desert ironclad beetle is said to exceed the combined biomass of mammals, birds, and reptiles in the same area!
Playing Dead
When frightened, these beetles will quickly roll onto their back to look like a dried-out insect. They can hold this position for several minutes, encouraging a predator to move on in search of a tastier target.
Even the beetle’s larvae can play dead. They release hemolymph (the insect equivalent of blood), which acts as a glue, covering them in soil particles. This natural camouflage makes them nearly invisible to predators.
