Blue Death Feigning Beetle

Blue Death Feigning Beetle Facts

• Though the name of the Blue Death Feigning Beetle remains rather unique, it also serves as perfectly descriptive.
• Scientists do not yet know much about this insect.
• The common name derives from the combination of its distinctive coloring and its behavior.
• When threatened, it reacts in a way the name implies.
• It quickly rolls over on its back and becomes extremely rigid. Once the perceived danger passes, it resumes moving.

Blue Death Feigning Beetle Physical Description

First of all, the remarkable Blue Death Feigning Beetle is actually black in color. The blue comes from a chemical coating that it secretes from its body at will.

Such a rather interesting adaptation serves a fully functional purpose, however. This coating serves to protect it from the harmful effects of sunlight.

This rather fascinating invertebrate remains quite small in size. A total overall length averages between 0.7 – 0.8 in (18 – 21 mm). The species does display sexual dimorphism, but only to a very small degree. 

Males average about 0.5 mm smaller in size.

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Tenebrionidae

Genus: Asbolus

Species: A. verrucosus

Blue Death Feigning Beetle Habitat and Diet

The remarkable Blue Death Feigning Beetle also appears to be extremely long-lived and can live for as long as ten years.

It evolved as endemic to the desert regions of North America, in the northwest section of the continental United States. Typically, people see it crawling either on or around sand dunes.

Though it hunts by both day and night, it remains primarily nocturnal. It appears to be an opportunistic feeder and principally consumes a variety of plants, as well as any carrion available.

Check out our articles on American Burying Beetle, Christmas Beetle, Toad Bug, Lovebug, Great Capricorn Beetle, Coral Pink Sand Dune Beetle, European Earwig