Diabolical Ironclad Beetle
Phloeodes diabolicus
Insecta
UNCOMMON
Stats
- Lifespan
- 7-8 yrs
- Size
- Medium
- Diet
- Decomposer
- Activity
- Nocturnal
- Social
- Solitary
- Biome
- Temperate woodland
- Range
- North America
- Movement
- Walking
- Breeding
- Egg-laying
- Defense
- Armor
- Status
- Uncommon
About
The diabolical ironclad beetle can survive being run over by a car — its interlocking exoskeleton is so tough it has inspired engineers designing crush-resistant joints. Found under the bark of dead oaks in western North America, it plays dead when threatened rather than flying away.
Life cycle
- 1.eggA small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
- 2.juvenileAn immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
- 3.subadultA near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
- 4.adultFully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.
Learn more
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera
- Family
- Zopheridae
- Genus
- Phloeodes
- Species
- Phloeodes diabolicus