Pinacate Beetle

Pinacate beetles do a headstand if they feel threatened.

Summary

Pinacate beetles are bugs in the genus Eleodes. They’re found in various locations across western North America. This black-colored beetle has a large and smooth color. They’re unable to fly because they do not have hindwings, and their elytra are fused. Pinacate beetles are scavengers known to feed on organic matter. When disturbed, the beetle would lift their hind legs off the ground and do a headstand. They also secrete a foul-smelling fluid to deter predators. 

Pinacate Beetles Species, Types, and Scientific Name

Beetles in the genus Eleodes are known as Pinacate beetles. Other common names that are often attributed to these beetles include clown beetles and stink bugs. The name “pinacate beetle” is a Mexican Spanish word that translates as “black beetle,” a reference to the jet black coloration of the beetle. The genus name “Eleodes” has a similar meaning. 

There are more than 120 species of Pinacate beetles in the United States West. They belong to a larger group of insects known as Darkling beetles. This group contains more than 1400 species of beetles in the family Tenebrionidae.

They’re also called clown beetles. This alludes to their habit of doing a headstand when they feel threatened. They’re also called desert stink bugs because of the bad-smelling oily secretion they emit from their rear end to deter predators. 

Appearance: How to Identify Pinacate Beetles

Pinacate beetles have ovate to oblong-shaped bodies and are occasionally robust. They typically range between 0.4 to 1.4 inches (8 to 40 mm) in length. This beetle is typically jet black, although some species can also be dark brown. 

They have a prominent head that is slightly narrowed towards the eyes. A few varieties of this beetle have a hair-like structure that appears like a tail but is actually an elongated wing. Like other beetles, they have thick leathery elytra, which protect their delicate flight wings. They do not use the wings to fly, and the elytra are typically fused in many species to protect the insect from harsh conditions. 

Habitat: Where to Find Pinacate Beetles

Pinacate beetles have an extensive range in North America, where they’re endemic. There are roughly 120 species of this beetle in the United States west, exhibiting great variety. They are found in various ecosystems, including open dunes, shrublands, and even in mountainous regions. Some species have been found on Islands off the coast of California. 

The largest of the pinacate beetles are typically found in desert lands. The desert variety is also the smelliest. Although they’re commonly found under logs, rocks, and other detritus, in the desert you may find them simply wandering randomly in search of food. Pinacate beetles are among the most commonly encountered insects in the desert. 

Pinacate beetles are active all year round. However, their habits tend to vary at different times of the year. From spring to autumn, for instance, they are nocturnal or crepuscular, which means they’re more active at night and early in the morning before sunrise. But in other seasons of the year, they’ll revert to a diurnal lifestyle. 

Diet: What Do Pinacate Beetles Eat?

In a lab or terrarium, Pinacate beetles can consume a variety of foods and fruits. Their diet may include lettuce, dog food, apples, dry corn meal, and carrots. In the wild, this beetle typically eats plant matter from grasses and forbs. They can also feed on the leaves of saltbush plants, Ironwood blossoms, and other plants. They’re mostly solitary, so they’re hardly ever problematic in gardens. 

What Eats Pinacate Beetles?

Pinacate beetles have an interesting defense behavior that protects them from predators. When threatened, they would do a headstand and release a noxious-smelling liquid from the lower end of their abdomen. This chemical is a type of benzoquinone. In addition to having an unpleasant smell, it can also irritate the skin and eyes of the attacking predator. While the effect does not last long, it is often enough to protect the beetle from most predators. 

However, the grasshopper mouse is one predator that isn’t deterred by this defense mechanism. It would grab the beetle, bury its abdomen into the soil and eat only the front half of its body. Scorpions can also break the beetle and eat only the soft bits inside instead of the whole instead. 

Prevention: How to Get Rid of Pinacate Beetles

Pinacate beetles are not pests, so there’s really no reason to worry about them. However, most people would rather keep them out of the house. The best strategy to achieve this is to bug-proof your home by caulking around the doors and windows. You should also block any possible entry points and use window screens.  

Related Animals 

• Japanese Beetle
• Dung Beetle 
• Blister Beetle