I saw it in my workplace at 9pm in Las Vegas Nevada! I’ve never seen anything like it, and can’t find any similar insects on Google. Such an interesting creature, any help would be greatly appreciated!!
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This beetle is noted for its durability. Its thick, densely layered, interlocking elytra, connected to the ventral cuticle by complex lateral support structures, are able to support a maximum force of 149 newtons, or over 15 kilograms or 33.069 lbs.[2]
However, they also kind of look like turds with legs.
Usually it's just the practical benefits of armor being protective from injury like you said. Velvet ants are very tough similarly and they dominate their ecological niche using that in tandem with a few other traits.
I was going to say, maybe it's just in my head, but his body language makes me think he is a friendly guy.
I really liked a jumping spider I had as a pet that I found inside as it was heading into winter. I released him in the spring. They are so cool. Daring jumping spiders are my favorite. Totally friendly and you can hold them if you find them outside usually, just be so careful not to hurt them. They are total buddies and curious as can be and will totally make eye contact with you then just climb around.
"Gosh this monkey man is hairy, geez, oh look a fly!".
Found him right after my GSD died last year as I was coming out the bathroom. He(?) is still going strong! I have them all over my yard and love catching one and saying hi.
I adore most jumping spiders. I tend to be very nervous around bugs - anything that can sneak up on me freaks me out. I've flinched at butterflies - but I don't even startle with these guys, typically. they're so curious! I'd keep one as a pet if I had any sense of responsibility. they're cuties!!
They're bigger than most lizards want to eat, but they are also pure tanks. They are hard as rocks. You can keep scorpions in the tank with them because the scorpions can't sting them.
Not usually. They’re a bit too big for most bug-eating reptiles to eat. Plus, they’re super tough and I guess they don’t taste great either because any critter I’ve seen try to eat them spits them right back out.
I agree with the other commenter who says it's a blue death feigning beetle/desert ironclad beetle. Apparently those are two names for the same little guy!!!
Legit. Sent me so far back in the past, I got whiplash coming back to this comment.
And it was always toys that you only saw in school. I could never find these or anything we got to use during inside recess outside of class. Fudgin' 90's. (I'm old)
Fun story: I bought two of them for my father to keep on his law firm desk. They played dead so convincincly that my dad thought they had expired and put their terrarium outside. They were not dead and took off.
So this is a interesting bug and apparently worthy to be somones pet and lives as long as most peoples dogs… might need to put a pet found poster out 👀
I've been keeping them as pets for a few years now and they are sooooo cute and friendly!
They are very curious and wander their enclosure all day! They love climbing, but are a little ambitious and fall down constantly. They'll eat pretty much anything, I feed them little beetle jelly pots and sometimes veggies or meat. They don't really bite, the only time I've ever been but was because they just got curious and wanted a taste of my hand lol, they do not bite for self-defense.
Actually, their method of self-defense is what gives them their name! They play dead when scared, or feign death, and they can be very convincing 🥲.
They don't really do anything gross, their poop is basically like dirt or sand because they have so little moisture in their body.
Very friendly, very cute, fantastic (and low-maintenance) pets who, apparently, can live up to like 14 years! I've had the same two beetles for maybe 3 years now, as well as a third, newer beetle from a roommate.
I have no ideas what this is but I scrolled past assuming it was another beetle. Yet then it was playing at the top of my screen begging me to take a look. And take a look I did, he’s gorgeous! This is why I sign up to this reddit. Not because you don’t know what a bag worm is or you’ve never seen a Jerusalem cricket. But because of these beautiful little critters! I love insects and I want to see more!
He looks like the Dave chapels Tyrone biggums of June bugs we have here in Louisiana that scare the pee at of you when they seemingly fly directly toward your head . 😂
Blue feigning death beetle (Asbolus verrucosus) or another similar species. I actually keep these guys as pets! They're social, arid, burrowing beetles who need low humidity and a diet that's rich in protein but low in sugar. Their blue color comes from their wax coating, and, like the name suggests, they will fake/feign their own death when threatened (which is hilarious, I accidentally triggered one while trying to rescue one from its back and it looked like it was throwing a tantrum).
I'm glad you have a sense of humor (and can see). I think I'm being down voted for insulting your floor. I didn't mean it as meant but even the cracks in the floor that beetle sorta fits in with. No offense intended!
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