The Desert Stink Beetle is a large, dull black darkling beetle famous for its defensive headstand posture — rearing its abdomen skyward to discharge a foul-smelling quinone spray at predators. It is a common sight on desert trails in the American Southwest, where it wanders actively in search of food. Its flightless, armored build is a superb adaptation to dry, sandy environments.
Habitat
Deserts, arid grasslands, and dry scrublands of the Southwest
Diet
Adults and larvae: decaying plant material, fungi, and seeds
How common
Common
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