Figeater Beetle: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Beetles and Friends · day 3 of 7

Five facts

1. Its grubs are nicknamed back crawlers. Instead of walking on their legs, they flip over and wriggle along on rows of bristles.
2. Unlike most beetles, it makes its own heat with its flight muscles. Even in the shade, its chest can stay up to 12 °C warmer than the air.
3. Its jaws are too weak for tough fruit skins, so it prefers soft figs and peaches. If needed, it rips the skin open with the horn on its head.
4. Its shiny shell can change colour as you move around it: the same beetle may look red from one side and green from another.
5. Tiny pseudoscorpions sometimes hide under its wing covers and hitch a ride, travelling much farther than they could on their own.

The quiz

1. How do figeater beetle grubs move around?

• They fly short hops
• They walk fast on six legs
• They roll onto their backs and wriggle (correct)
• They swim through mud

They flip over and push along with rows of bristles.

2. What makes the figeater beetle unusual among beetles?

• It makes its own body heat (correct)
• It lives only underwater
• It has no wings
• It sleeps all summer

It warms itself using its flight muscles.

3. What does it use to tear open fruit skin?

• Its back legs
• Its antennae
• Its wing covers
• The horn on its head (correct)

When it finds no damaged fruit, it uses its head horn.

4. Why can the same figeater beetle look red or green?

• It changes colour with its mood
• Its colour shifts with the viewing angle (correct)
• It paints itself with pollen
• It sheds its shell every day

Its colour changes depending on the angle you look from.

5. Which tiny animals ride under its wing covers?

• Ants
• Baby snails
• Pseudoscorpions (correct)
• Fleas

Pseudoscorpions hitch rides to travel farther.

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