The skunk beetle is a large insect that may look like a good snack to many predators in North American deserts. However, this beetle has a defense that sends most attackers away in a hurry. The insect eats rotting food, and uses it to create a stinky chemical that it can shoot from its rear.
Back Lifts: This beetle's hind legs are much longer than those in the front, which makes it walk slowly and awkwardly. However, the insect uses these long legs to raise its rear and point it upward, toward the face of an attacker.
Grounded: Unlike many beetles, the skunk beetle can't fly. The wingcases on its back are fused together in a hard shell. This shell provides some protective armor against predators' attacks.
Bad In, Bad Out[]
This beetle is ready to fire a stink bomb.
When the skunk beetle forages for food, it doesn't look for lively prey or juicy plants. Instead, this insect searches the desert for dead plants and animals that have already begun to decay. The beetle transforms part of its rotten meals into gasses, called quinones, and stores them in its rear. When an animal of any size moves in to attack, the insect raises its rear and shoots the gasses out in a spray that can spread several inches away. The skunk beetle's gasses smell so bad that it's known to make some mammals run away with tears in their eyes.
Hideaway: The skunk beetle comes out to search for food only as the sun goes down. During the day, this insect stays out of the scorching sun and hides from predators under a rock.
Many Enemies: Not all predators are turned away by the skunk beetle's smelly defense. Birds can attack from above before the beetle can set off its stink bomb, and grasshopper mice have learned to force the beetle's rear down into the sand as they attack.
A Nose Full[]
- A skunk beetle crawls from under its daytime hideout around sunset in the desert. Almost immediately, a young coyote spots the black insect against the light sand and follows quietly, waiting for its chance to pounce and enjoy a tasty morsel.
- The coyote lunges forward, but the beetle is ready. Within a split second of the predator's attack, the insect raises its rear and shoots a cloud of stinky gas right up the coyote's nose. The gas affects the mammal like acid, stinging it and causing it to run away to recover.
Trivia[]
- This beetle is a type of desert stink beetle found in the U.S., often referred to as a type of Stink or Darkling beetle. Skunk beetle does not appear to be a commonly used identifier for the beetle, but the scientific name is a real beetle.