# Pimelia bipunctata

Pimelia bipunctata is a special beetle with a shiny black body and two bright spots. These beetles love to hide under rocks and in the soil, making them fun to find during nature walks!

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Pimelia bipunctata](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pimelia_bipunctata.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pimelia_bipunctata.jpg)

## Appearance

The Pimelia bipunctata is a medium-sized, oval-shaped beetle, typically dull black or dark brown. Its hard, fused wing covers often have a rough, granular texture and sometimes two subtle, darker spots, giving it its name. Its robust body helps it survive in sandy environments.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Coleoptera
- **Family:** Tenebrionidae
- **Genus:** Pimelia

## Interesting facts

- Instead of flying, they rely on powerful legs to scurry away from danger fast.
- Some Pimelia beetles can live for several years, which is long for an insect!
- Their tough body helps them walk on scorching hot desert sand without harm.
- They are excellent at playing dead, freezing completely still to trick predators.

## Special abilities

- **Desert Heat Armor:** Pimelia bipunctata has a tough, dark exoskeleton that helps them endure extreme temperature changes in arid environments.
- **Sand Surfer:** Pimelia bipunctata can quickly burrow into loose sand because its strong legs and tough body allow it to escape predators or intense heat.
- **Fog Catcher:** Pimelia bipunctata has a special body shape that helps them collect tiny dew drops on its exoskeleton, providing much-needed water in dry places.

## Measurements & details

- **Size:** 15-25 mm
- **Lifespan:** 120-365 days
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

These beetles mostly eat dead plants and seeds found in their dry habitats.

- **Primary Foods:** dead leaves, decaying plants, seeds, fungi, lichens
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** European yellow scorpion (*Buthus occitanus*) — hunts Pimelia bipunctata in arid landscapes.
- **Eaten by:** [Common wall lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-wall-lizard) (*Podarcis muralis*) — preys on these beetles in sunny, rocky habitats.
- **Eats:** Esparto grass (*Stipa tenacissima*) — consumes dead plant material and seeds from this tough grass.
- **Eaten by:** [Little Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/little-owl) (*Athene noctua*) — adds these beetles to its diverse diet in arid regions.

## Traits

- [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color.
- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding.
- [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Be gentle if you find one; they are small and can be scared easily.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Pimelia bipunctata?

Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How big is Pimelia bipunctata?

15-25 mm

### How long does Pimelia bipunctata live?

120-365 days

### What does Pimelia bipunctata eat?

These beetles mostly eat dead plants and seeds found in their dry habitats.

### Where is Pimelia bipunctata usually found?

Grasslands

### How does Pimelia bipunctata hunt?

Foraging

### How many legs does Pimelia bipunctata have?

6

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Pimelia bipunctata: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pimelia-bipunctata)