Pinacate beetle

Eleodes is a genus of darkling beetles commonly known as pinacate beetles or desert stink beetles. They are endemic to western North America, with many species found in the Sonoran Desert. The name pinacate is Mexican Spanish, derived from the Nahuatl (Aztec) name for the insect, pinacatl, which translates as "black beetle".

This article is about the genus of beetles. For the volcanic range on the Sonora-Arizona border, see Pinacate, California. For California town, see Pinacate Peaks.

Pinacate beetle
Eleodes pimelioides
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Tenebrionidae
Tribe: Amphidorini
Genus: Eleodes
Eschscholtz, 1829
subgenera
  • Amphidora Eschscholtz, 1829
  • Ardeleodes Blaisdell, 1937
  • Blapylis Horn, 1870
  • Caverneleodes Triplehorn, 1975
  • Chaseleodes Thomas, 2015
  • Cratidus LeConte, 1862
  • Discogenia LeConte, 1866
  • Eleodes Eschscholtz, 1829
  • Heteropromus Blaisdell, 1909
  • Litheleodes Blaisdell, 1909
  • Melaneleodes Blaisdell, 1909
  • Metablapylis Blaisdell, 1909
  • Omegeleodes Triplehorn & Thomas, 2012
  • Promus LeConte, 1862
  • Pseudeleodes Blaisdell, 1909
  • Tricheleodes Blaisdell, 1909
  • Xysta Eschscholtz, 1829

The pinacate beetle is noted for its defensive tactic of standing on its head and squirting a noxious spray. This has earned it the additional names of clown bug and stink bug, names also applied to other unrelated insects.

See also

References
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