Phloeodes diabolicus
Diabolical Ironclad Beetle
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Size: 15-27 mm
Seasonality: Found throughout the year, but most common between March and July.
Distribution; Occurs on most of California's coast and in the Sierra. This species has also been seen in Baja California.
Information:
Found in dry to moist forests. In the correct areas they can easily be located by flipping old logs and peeling off loose bark. They like to be on the underside of logs where fungus, that they eat, grows but will fall off and play dead as soon as the log is disturbed. However this is not always the case so make sure to check the underside of the log as well as underneath it. This species is widely known because of its insanely strong carapace. The elytra lock together in a way that causes the beetle to be able to withstand immense amounts of force. Apparently it can even survive being run over by a car!
Description: Body; elongate-oblong, midsection constricted; moderately robust; dark black-blue occasionally with patches of black setae and rarely yellow patches, appendages black-blue. Tarsal formula: 5-5-4. Underside of tarsi and base of tibiae with golden setae. Antennae: Black-blue; Clavate; 10 segmented with a 2-segment club. Pronotum: cordate; Pronotal disk granulate with many small tubercles both spread over the pronotal disk and concentrated on the lateral margins. Pronotum also with two inconspicuous elevated carinae which are curved inward to make a abstract hourglass shape. Very rarely is there an intricate pattern of golden setae on the pronotum following the pronotal grooves. Elytra: Black-blue and with many small pits and bumps. Each elytron has a single raised portion that eventually slants towards the apex of the elytra.
Ventral surface fairly plain and smooth but with many miniscule rounded tubercles and occasionally small patches of yellow setae.
Antennal cavities complete
Antennae fully protected (photo #2)
Forms/Variability:
Typical form
Hellburnt form
Collection notes:
Has been collected from
Under Platanus bark
Under Quercus bark
Under Populus bark
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