Pimelia Costata
EntdeckenInsekten
Pimelia Costata
pimelia costata
Pimelia costata, also known as the Gran Canaria giant darkling beetle, is a remarkable flightless insect endemic to the coastal dunes and dry scrublands of Gran Canaria. Adapted to live in some of the island's most arid environments, this rugged beetle plays a crucial ecological role as a detritivore, recycling scarce organic material back into the sandy soil. Due to heavy tourism and urban development destroying its natural habitats, this unique beetle faces severe conservation challenges and is highly protected.
Lebensraum: Typically found in coastal sand dunes, sandy beaches, and xerophytic cardonal-tabaibal scrublands of Gran Canaria.
Aussehen
Measuring between 1.8 and 2.5 centimeters in length, this beetle features a sturdy, rounded, matte-black exoskeleton. Its most defining characteristic is the series of prominent, raised longitudinal ridges, or costae, running along its fused elytra. Because it is completely flightless, it lacks functional hind wings, giving it a heavy, robust appearance with strong, thick legs well-suited for crawling and digging through shifting sands.
ReichAnimaliaStammArthropodaKlasseInsectaOrdnungColeopteraFamilieTenebrionidaeGattungPimelia
Kategorie
InsektenSeltenheit
Common
Gefahr
1/5 · Sehr gering
Snaps
Mach den ersten Snap!
Interessante Fakten
Since they are entirely flightless, their wing covers have evolved to act as a physical shield to protect them from dehydration.
They are micro-endemic, meaning they are native to a single island in the world and cannot be found anywhere else naturally.
When threatened, they often play dead by rolling onto their backs and freezing their legs, a defense mechanism called thanatosis.
Besondere Fähigkeiten
Fähigkeit
Fog Harvesting
Uses its ridged, matte exoskeleton to capture morning dew and moisture from coastal fog, allowing water droplets to slide directly to its mouthparts.
Fähigkeit
Fused Elytra Protection
Its wing cases are tightly fused together to form a sealed internal chamber, drastically reducing moisture loss in scorching temperatures.
Fähigkeit
Rapid Sand Burrowing
Possesses strong, spade-like forelegs that allow it to quickly dig under loose sand to escape predators and extreme midday heat.
Maße und Details
- Länge
- 1-2 cm
- Gewicht
- 0.001-0.003 kg
- Lebenserwartung
- 1-3 Jahre
- Top Speed
- 1 km/h
- Gelegegröße
- 10-40
- Brutzeit
- 10-20 Tage
Ernährung und Fütterung
Feeds opportunistically on decaying plant matter, fallen seeds, and dead insects found on the ground.
Altersunterschiede: Larvae live underground feeding on decomposing roots, while adults forage on the surface.
Hauptnahrung
- Decaying leaves
- Fallen flowers
- Dead insects
- Dry plant seeds
Nahrungssuche
- Foraging
Ökologische Zusammenhänge
eaten by
Gran Canaria Giant Lizard
Gallotia stehlini
Preyed upon by this large endemic lizard species of Gran Canaria.
host plant
Canary Island Spurge
Euphorbia canariensis
Consumes decaying leaf litter and fallen debris from this endemic spurge.
Merkmale
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Auch bekannt als
Noch keine Alternativnamen vorhanden.
Sammlungen
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Sicherheit
Gefahr
1/5 · Sehr gering
Noch keine besonderen Sicherheitshinweise.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Wie identifiziert man Pimelia Costata?
Der einfachste Weg, Pimelia Costata zu bestimmen, ist die Verwendung der Naturführer-App Snappit.
Was ist der/die/das länge von Pimelia Costata?
1-2 cm
Was ist der/die/das gewicht von Pimelia Costata?
0.001-0.003 kg
Was ist der/die/das lebenserwartung von Pimelia Costata?
1-3 Jahre
Was ist der/die/das top Speed von Pimelia Costata?
1 km/h
Was frisst Pimelia Costata?
Feeds opportunistically on decaying plant matter, fallen seeds, and dead insects found on the ground.
Wo findet man Pimelia Costata normalerweise?
Typically found in coastal sand dunes, sandy beaches, and xerophytic cardonal-tabaibal scrublands of Gran Canaria.
Wie jagt Pimelia Costata?
Foraging
Snap-Karte
Zoome hinein, um Cluster aufzulösen und zu sehen, wo dieses Objekt fotografiert wurde.
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Neueste Snaps
Neueste Snaps erscheinen hier, wenn neue Beobachtungen hinzukommen.
