Darkling Beetle - E. ventricosus

This small, fuzzy beetle calls the desert its home where it feeds on an assortment of plants.

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Image Credit: Hugo B., taken near Barstow, CA

Full-sized image #1 of the Darkling Beetle - <em>E. ventricosus</em>

Thumbnail image #1 of the Darkling Beetle - <em>E. ventricosus</em>

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Image Credit: Hugo B., taken near Barstow, CA

Full-sized image #2 of the Darkling Beetle - <em>E. ventricosus</em>

Thumbnail image #2 of the Darkling Beetle - <em>E. ventricosus</em>

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Image Credit: J.B. from Fallon, NV

Full-sized image #3 of the Darkling Beetle - <em>E. ventricosus</em>

Thumbnail image #3 of the Darkling Beetle - <em>E. ventricosus</em>

TAXONOMY:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Tenebrionidae

Genus: Edrotes

Species: ventricosus

The Darkling Beetle - E. ventricosus is typically 0.2 inches to 0.3 inches (6mm to 10mm) in size and has the following descriptors / identifiers: hairy; small; fuzzy; desert; furry; crawling; black.

It has a typical diet of the following: saltgrass; Russian thistle; wild onion.

Color Identification Guide

Various colors commonly associated with this beetle.

Black

Beetle Anatomy

Sighting Guide (Jan-Dec)

The general likelihood of encountering this beetle based on a given month of the year in the United States.

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

Territorial Area Map (Visual Reference Guide)

The map below showcases (in blue) the states and territories of North America where the Darkling Beetle - E. ventricosus may be found (but is not limited to). This sort of data can be useful in seeing concentrations of a particular species over the continent as well as revealing possible migratory patterns over a species' given lifespan. Some species are naturally confined by environment, weather, mating habits, food resources and the like while others see widespread expansion across most, or all, of North America.

Alaska

Hawaii

Prince Edward Is.

Territory map graphic of the country of Mexico

Contiguous United States shape map layer graphic

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