Eleodes

This article is about the genus of beetles. For the volcanic range on the Sonora-Arizona border, see Pinacate, California. For the California town, see Pinacate Peaks.

Desert stink beetle
Temporal range: Middle Miocene–Present
Eleodes armata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Tenebrionidae
Tribe: Amphidorini
Genus: Eleodes
Eschscholtz, 1829
Type species
Eleodes dentipes
Subgenera

See text

The range of Eleodes

Eleodes (commonly known as pinacate beetles or desert stink beetles) is a genus of darkling beetles, in the family Tenebrionidae.[1] They are endemic to western North America ranging from southern Canada to central Mexico with many species found along the Mexico-United States border.[2] Some species have been introduced to Colombia. The name pinacate is Mexican Spanish, derived from the Nahuatl (Aztec) name for the insect, pinacatl, which translates as "black beetle".[3]

Eleodes species range from about 10 to 50 millimetres (0.39 to 1.97 in) in length[2] and are black in color with some having a reddish tint on their abdomen. The setae of some species such as Eleodes osculans collect debris and give the insect a brown color, a similar effect occurs in the species Eleodes mirabilis giving it the appearance of having whitish stripes on its abdomen.[4] Due to the number of species and their large range these beetles have a fairly varied appearance throughout the many species. All produce quinone or similar substances as a deterrent to predators, and many will stand on their heads to spray it.[5][6] They are typically found in the arid desert regions of their range but can also be found in forests and grasslands. All Eleodes species are flightless as their elytra are fused together and their second pair of wings is very reduced and vestigial.[6][7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bousquet et al. 2018 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "Genus Eleodes - Desert Stink Beetles". bugguide.net. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  3. ^ Clarke, Chris (September 13, 2013). "The Pinacate Beetle is Not Afraid of You". KCET. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  4. ^ Triplehorn, Charles A.; Thomas, Donald B.; Smith, Aaron D. (2015). "A Revision of Eleodes Subgenus Eleodes Eschscholtz (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)". Transactions of the American Entomological Society. 141: 156–196. doi:10.3157/061.141.0111. S2CID 86220224.
  5. ^ Happ, George M. (1968-12-01). "Quinone and hydrocarbon production in the defensive glands of Eleodes longicollis and Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae)". Journal of Insect Physiology. 14 (12): 1821–1837. Bibcode:1968JInsP..14.1821H. doi:10.1016/0022-1910(68)90214-X. ISSN 0022-1910.
  6. ^ a b "Darkling beetle | insect | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  7. ^ "Discovering a New Species in Nevada | Biodiversity Knowledge Integration Center". biokic.asu.edu. Retrieved 2023-07-05.