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Phloeodes diabolicus
Black, rugose Ironclad Beetle about 2 cm long. Family Zopheridae. These beetles are so hard, a predator would need diamond tipped teeth to penetrate it's armor. We used to call these "Tank Beetles". For P. diabolicus see: https://bugguide.net/node/view/90037/bgi... For Images of other Zopheridae see: https://www.insectimages.org/browse/taxt...
Traversing a rock, which was also very beautiful. Found while hiking at the edge of Los Padres National Forest above Santa Barbara, California.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zopheridae... https://www.naturalista.mx/taxa/47592-Zo... http://www.coleoptera-neotropical.org/pa... https://bugguide.net/node/view/5779 https://www.insectimages.org/browse/taxt...
Spotted on May 29, 2014
Submitted on Jun 26, 2014
3 Comments
Thank you thaptor! So interesting. I have to go back and check other beetles I have that might be Zopherids.
= Phloeodes diabolicus (Zopheridae, not Tenebrionidae)
Yes those shells look like rough cast iron.