Darkling beetle

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Darkling beetle
Photo Information
Copyright: Achim Fried (John_F_Kennedy) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 184 W: 0 N: 97] (2449)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-05-13
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon 350D EOS
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-09-27 3:33
Viewed: 572
Points: 9
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Beetle seen at Douras Europos in the desert of Syria.

thanks to cicindela for the classification

from Wikipedia:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Tenebrionoidea
Family: Tenebrionidae

Darkling beetles are a family of beetles found worldwide, estimated at more than 20,000 species. Many of the beetles have black elytra. Darkling beetles eat both fresh and decaying vegetation. Major predators include birds, rodents, and lizards. The larval stages of several species are cultured as feeder insects for captive insectivores, and include the very commonly known mealworms and superworms, and the lesser-known mini mealworms.

Some species live in the dry Namib desert and have evolved modification that help them collect water from the fog that condenses on their elytra.

Raising darkling beetles from larvae through adulthood can be a rewarding biology project for lower school educators.
XOTAELE, Silke has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Achim,
The species or genus ID I have to check, but this is a member of family Tenebrionidae :)
Regards,
Radomir

Hi Achim,

A good POV of the beetle, the photo has a good composition, sharpness and nice colors. Thanks for sharing.

Pierre

Hola Achim.
Interesante insecto, extraño para mí.
Buena nota. Saludos, JL.

Superbes détails et magnifique lumière.
Bravo
Marie

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 743 W: 106 N: 1704] (5220)
  • [2007-10-09 5:39]

Syria sure is a great place to visit -- I can't wait to find an excuse to go back!
Superb capture, despite the slight camera motion
TFS
silke

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