What is the Namib Desert beetle?
Diversity of Namib Desert beetles. Darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) of the Namib Desert inhabit one of the hottest and driest places on Earth [4]. These diurnal, flightless beetles seem to have evolved a number of solutions to survive the extreme conditions imposed by desert environments. These insects tend to hide so they can be found under, in, or between stacked hay bales. Darkling beetles do not contain can- tharidin, the toxin in blister beetles, they are not harmful.Darkling beetles exist worldwide, but it is hypothesized that they originated in sub-Saharan Africa. They exist in large population densities and are considered invasive as they migrate from barns to nearby farms and residential areas.When threatened, darkling beetles perform a defensive behavior by raising their abdomen and spraying a bad-smelling liquid, which keeps predators away. Larger beetles are capable of spraying as far as 10 to 12 inches, several times.Rodents, burrowing owls and loggerhead shrikes will feed on the adult beetle. Successful predators get around the beetle’s defense mechanism by jamming its butt into the soil and eating the head and upper body. The darkling beetle does not fly but will escape from extreme desert heat by burying itself in the sand.
What do desert beetles do?
Desert Beetle Harvests Water. Description: Certain species of darkling beetles that live in the Namib Desert are able to harvest water vapor using an ingenious series of tips and bumps on their wing scales. The water droplets start to form on the tips and then flow off the waxy bumps to be collected by the beetle. To survive in the arid wilderness, the Namib Desert beetle harvests water from thin air. The insect leans its bumpy body into the wind, letting droplets of fog accumulate and drip down its wing case into its mouth. It condenses the water very efficiently.It sounds like magic, and one would probably say it sounds too good to be true, however, some species of Namib Desert Beetles do just that! The beetles extract water from fog using a pattern of bumps and channels on their shells.Receiving little rain and exposed to often wildly oscillating fluctuations in temperature, deserts are home to a rich and dominant beetle fauna whose basic physical features are remarkably similar throughout the world.
Where do beetles in the Namib Desert get their water from?
Similarly, Namib desert beetles have no easy access to water but acquire water from thin air by leaning into the wind to capture droplets of water from the fog with their textured body armour. This allows the moisture to accumulate and drip into their mouths. Beetles can survive their entire lives without drinking any liquid water whatsoever. Instead, they suck water from the air with their rear ends. Insect pests eat their way through thousands of tons of food around the world every year.The Namib Desert has a large diversity of darkling beetle species. All these beetles are flightless and feed on plant detritus.
What happens if a Palo Verde beetle bites you?
Palo Verde beetles may bite if picked up or handled. The bite might be painful due to their strong jaws, but it’s not dangerous. These beetles don’t carry venom or diseases, so there’s no need to worry about any serious health risks. The most severe threat from blister beetles is their poison called cantharidin, which is toxic to people and livestock, especially horses. Cantharidin oil is released when beetles are crushed and even dead beetles have high levels of the toxin that does not weaken.Since beetles are identified in part by their chewing mouthparts, any beetle can technically bite. Still, only a few are able to clamp down strongly enough to harm humans. In addition to stag beetles, there are two other species that may be painful to humans.Blister beetles are members of a family of plant-feeding insects (Meloidae) that contain cantharidin, a toxic defensive chemical that protects them from predators.Many beetles are beneficial insects, either predatory on other insects or eating plants considered weeds. For certain widespread insect and weed problems, beetles are intentionally released for biological control.Can these beetles or larvae bite? If handled roughly, the larvae may pinch. However, their jaws cannot break through human skin.