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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Cucujiformia » Tenebrionoidea » Darkling Beetles (Tenebrionidae) » Tenebrioninae » Amphidorini » Desert Stink Beetles (Eleodes) » subgenus Eleodes (Eleodes subgenus Eleodes) » Armored Darkling Beetle (Eleodes armata)
Photo#21103
common beetle? - Eleodes armata
Copyright © 2005 dbarton

common beetle? - Eleodes armata
Costa Mesa, Orange County, California, USA
March 4, 2005
There were thousands of these in the park the other day, but no one seemed to know what kind of beetle it was. Anyone?
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Contributed by dbarton on 20 June, 2005 - 2:40pm
Last updated 30 May, 2016 - 12:41am

not armatus
Armatus has femoral spines on all pairs of legs.
… Marcus bullock, 15 July, 2016 - 4:52am login or register to post comments

Eleodes armatus
Moved from Desert Stink Beetles.
… Hisserdude, 30 May, 2016 - 12:41am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Darkling Beetles.
… Kojun Kanda, 25 September, 2007 - 5:19pm login or register to post comments

Darkling beetle.
This is a darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae. It is probably a species of Eleodes. They are generally fairly large, and live in very arid habitats. They do a "headstand" if approached, deploying pungent defensive chemicals from their hind end. The odor is strong, and the fluid can stain your fingers, but otherwise they are harmless. They scavenge dried, decaying organic matter.
… Eric R. Eaton, 20 June, 2005 - 6:09pm login or register to post comments

 
The spur on the front femur i
The spur on the front femur is interesting--not something I've noticed on the common darkling ground beetles where I am in LA. Is there a more specific location avaliable for this photo than California?
… Jess Morton, 21 June, 2005 - 2:00am login or register to post comments

 
Eleodes armata???
There are very few Eleodes with a profemoral spur, maybe only one (can't remember), and one that does have it is Eleodes armata.
… Donald S. Chandler, 17 March, 2006 - 9:31pm login or register to post comments

 
Sorry, missed the question. T
Sorry, missed the question. This was in Costa mesa CA.
… dbarton, 14 September, 2005 - 9:18pm login or register to post comments

 
The did that headstand thing
The did that headstand thing you mentioned, but maybe in the breeze the odor wasn't noticable.
… dbarton, 20 June, 2005 - 8:01pm login or register to post comments

 
Just a warning
They don't release their defensive fluid automatically. They warn potential predators by doing their headstand first, and usually won't release unless treated roughly.
… Jim McClarin, 20 June, 2005 - 8:34pm login or register to post comments

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