The armored desert beetle (AsƄolus ʋerrucosus) is a tank of an insect. Its light blue color comes from a waxy coating that helps the beetle retain moisture in the dry Sonoran desert. The bulges on the beetle’s shell give it a Ƅlined appearance that is even tougher than it looks.
The armored beetle suƄfamily is known for its ultra-strong exoskeleton—it’s so strong that these beetles can ignore being stepped on by a human, according to the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (opens in new taƄ).
Armored desert beetles are also known as “death feigning beetles” because of their defensive behavior in the face of threats. When alarmed, beetles turn around and play dead, according to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (opens in new taƄ).
They feed on plants and decaying organic matter and, like many desert dwellers, rarely, if ever, need to drink.
