Beetles

Darkling Beetle

This long-legged beetle lives in the extremely dry Namib Desert of Africa. Unlike other insects, darkling beetle needs to drink. It has developed a remarkable way of drinking water in the dry desert. In the morning, when the fog passes over the desert, the darkling beetle climbs on a sand dune. It stands with its head down near the ground, and its body up in the air. The moisture from the fog condenses into water droplets on the beetle's body. Then, the droplets slide slowly down its body and into its mouth.

[ A darkling beetle ]

Ground Beetle

Ground beetles are also called domino beetles because of the white spots on its black back. This pattern means that the ground beetle will spray a chemical that burns on the predator when attacked. As its name suggests, the ground beetle spends its entire life on the ground. It cannot fly like the other beetles because its wings are stuck together. Ground beetles can't travel by air, but they can run very fast with their 3 pairs of exteremely long legs. Apart from running fast, the legs also lift up the body, away from the hot sand. The ground beetle has very good eyesight. This helps it spot its prey. It can live for several months without eating, which is very suitable for desert life, as food is extrmely hard to find in the desert.