Guess I reached a bit for a cute title. Most gardeners wouldn't consider this beetle a darling but a pest. They chew the bases of vegetable plants and do cause some damage. That I saw this one at all was a bit of a surprise because, as the name may hint, darkling beetles only come out at night generally. There are over 20,000 species of darklings- Tenebrionidae- and this one, Capnochroa fuliginosa, does not have a common name. Darkling beetle larvae are what you may buy to feed your fish if you have an aquarium...mealworms, which are raised specifically for fish food.
Considering that these beetles prefer darkness to avoid predators, it was sheer luck that not only did I find it but it did not scurry away when I photographed it. And scurry it would as their wings are fused and that prevents flying. But it also helps to stay moist in dry heat.
WordPress.com
No comments:
Post a Comment