Pinacate Beetle vs Barberi's Angel Insect

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pinacate Beetle Barberi's Angel Insect
Scientific Name Eleodes armata Zorotypus barberi
Order Coleoptera Zoraptera
Family Tenebrionidae Zorotypidae
Size 25-35 mm 2-3 mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Forests
Diet Detritivores Detritivores
Regions Southwestern North America Central America, Panama
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Pinacate Beetle

A shiny black desert beetle with spine-like projections on its legs. It performs a distinctive headstand when threatened.

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Did You Know?

Its defensive headstand pose is so well known that it inspired the Aztec name 'pinacatl' meaning black beetle.

Barberi's Angel Insect

A tiny colonial insect living in decomposing wood in tropical forests. It exhibits dimorphism, with blind apterous and eyed alate forms.

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Did You Know?

This species was one of the first zorapterans discovered in Central America.