Blue Death-feigning Beetle vs Horn-faced Marsh Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blue Death-feigning Beetle | Horn-faced Marsh Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Asbolus verrucosus | Dictya umbrarum |
| Order | Coleoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Tenebrionidae | Sciomyzidae |
| Size | 18-21mm | 4-7 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Wetlands |
| Diet | Detritivores | Detritivores |
| Regions | North America | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Blue Death-feigning Beetle
A rounded blue-grey desert beetle covered in a waxy powder-blue coating. When threatened it flips onto its back and plays dead with legs extended stiffly.
Did You Know?
Its death-feigning behavior is so convincing that predators lose interest and the beetle can remain motionless for hours.
Horn-faced Marsh Fly
A small yellowish marsh fly with patterned wings and prominent facial ridges. Larvae feed on decomposing aquatic snails in shallow wetland habitats.
Did You Know?
Sciomyzid flies are the only family of Diptera in which the larvae are obligate associates of mollusks.