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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles (Polyphaga) » Fungus, Bark, Darkling and Blister Beetles (Tenebrionoidea) » Darkling Beetles (Tenebrionidae)
Photo#294614
Beetle?
Copyright © 2009 miika

Beetle?
Fairfax, CA, California, USA
June 12, 2009
Size: 1 1/2 inches
Went hiking this past weekend at Loma Alta Open Space Reserve and came across this large beetle. Every time it felt bothered, it rose up on the back legs, as if to appear more menacing. A very smooth body, not too segmented.
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Contributed by miika on 26 June, 2009 - 9:55pm
Last updated 14 July, 2009 - 12:16pm

Darkling beetle.
This is a darkling beetle, in either the genus Eleodes or Coelocnemis.
… Eric R. Eaton, 26 June, 2009 - 10:31pm login or register to post comments

 
AKA a "Stink Bug"
though there are true bugs in the Pentatomidae that more properly have the name.

It holds its rear-end up for the same reason skunks do: to warn potential attackers that it's about to let loose with a blast of smelly chemicals.
… Chuck Entz, 27 June, 2009 - 12:05am login or register to post comments

 
Thank you!!
http://www.desertusa.com/mag01/may/papr/sbug.html

Thank you so much for the comments! I was pretty suspicious about the behaviour so kept my distance.
… miika, 28 June, 2009 - 4:59am login or register to post comments

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