Anti-desiccation

Guides

• Asbolus

  blue death-feigning beetles

  Asbolus is a small genus of darkling beetles (family Tenebrionidae) native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. The genus contains four species, including the well-known Asbolus verrucosus, commonly called the blue death-feigning beetle. These beetles are adapted to arid desert environments and exhibit a distinctive blue coloration derived from a waxy coating that prevents desiccation. The genus is notable for its thanatosis behavior—playing dead when threatened.

  desert-beetlethanatosisdeath-feigningwax-coatinganti-desiccationdarkling-beetleTenebrionidaeMojave-Desertpet-tradeinsect-zoo