Me and my ironclad beetles. If you read my blog, you know I've come across several this year. And I love them all. This morning, though, I was saddened to find one dead at the bottom of the metal bucket we keep under the a/c drip line right outside the back garage door. I mean that beetle was GONE. It was bluish in color and all curled up. "Poor thing," I said. "I'm so sorry!" I fished out the body and dropped it between the rocks and concrete patio near the bucket. I felt really bad.
THEN.....
Just awhile, I stepped outside and what should I see but AN IRONCLAD BEETLE! Right on the concrete! Right away, I searched and searched for the body of the dead one I'd deposited (in photo below you can see the open area between the rocks and concrete..that's where I dropped the dead beetle). But, I promise, there is no beetle carcass to be found there. I really wish I'd taken a photo of the drowned beetle. But why? At the time, I never considered the thought that I might need proof that a beetle drowned in our metal bucket.
I truly believe that the happy, healthy ironclad beetle I found is the same one I believed to be drowned and dead. Is that possible? I shall ask some experts! Meanwhile, I transferred my beetle friend Lazarus to the fragrant mistflower just across the way in our yard.
O Happy Day for one ironclad beetle. And me!
6 comments:
Perhaps these beetles have "playing dead" listed among their many feats? Keep us posted!
What an interesting discussion about the lifespan and the little affect of oxygen deprivation has on this beautiful 'jewel' of a beetle.
As an aside all but one of my mama garden spiders I've been watching all summer are gone. One left three egg cases and then her web became smaller and less intricate over the days, and then she was no more.
I ran across your blog link on a iNaturalist observation by Sam Kieschnick and glad I did...loved your story about you, your yard and your ironclad beetle Lazarus. I saw my first as a youngster on my grandparent's farm in Young County, Texas and they have been my favorite beetle as well since then. Don't stop writing. Storytellers are the spice of life.
Hey thanks! Sambiology is a great biologist and so devoted to iNaturalist! I got to meet him in person last year at the Texas Master Naturalist state conference. Thank you for taking the time to read this lengthy post! :-)
Many beetles have this drowning reflex, apparently quickly dropping their metabolic rate to wait out the flood.
Thanks, Jim! Found a study to that effect. So cool! Insects are just so amazing!!
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