The Blue Death Feigning Beetle (Asbolus verrucosus) is a small but hardy beetle known for its blue colour and ability to play dead when threatened. The species name verrucosus means "warty," referring to the characteristic bumps on its elytra (hardened wing covers), while Asbolus is the genus to which it belongs. It is part of the darkling beetle family and is well-adapted to dry desert environments.
This beetle grows to about 18–21 mm (0.71–0.83 in) from head to abdomen and are blue colour however they can turn a blacker colour if this blue rubs off. Males are slightly smaller than females, and have bristly red hairs on their antennae. The beetles are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk.
One of the beetle’s main survival tricks is feigning death so when it feels threatened, it stiffens up, flips onto its back or side, and stays completely still. Many predators, like birds and lizards, prefer live prey, so they lose interest and leave it alone. Once the danger is gone, the beetle gets back up and continues on its way.
These beetles are found in the southwestern United States (California, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico) and parts of northwestern Mexico. They live in dry, sandy, and rocky deserts like the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts, where temperatures can be extreme.