Roughened Darkling Beetle

Roughened Darkling Beetle

Upis ceramboides

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Moscow

In 3 days ~10%

6 Verified sightings at Moscow
May Best month

About the Roughened Darkling Beetle

Upis ceramboides is a species of beetle, one of many wood-living insects that benefit from forest fires. It often occurs in quantities below the bark on the fire-damaged birches, but can sometimes be seen on other deciduous trees such as willow and aspen. The larvae thrive in the inner bark which is rich in mycelia, and in the sapwood. They develop into pupae during the summer months under the bark, and they develop over two or three years. The following spring they reproduce themselves.

It has over the years have disappeared from southern Sweden and is now only locally in the Norrland coast (Västerbotten and Norrbotten) as well as Canada and Alaska. The reason for the species' decline is probably the lack of fire-damaged forests and birch, and the modern forestry practices. Upis ceramboides is considered "vulnerable" in terms of species survival. In Vindeln municipality it is called köksskörven, because it occurs indoors when burning firewood in winter.

The species' survival at temperatures well below freezing are attributed to the xylomannan non-protein antifreeze molecule (polysaccharide and a fatty acid) as well as the sugar-alcohol, threitol. Other notable freeze-tolerant animals include the fly Polypedilum vanderplanki and the beetle Cucujus clavipes puniceus. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability

More parks will be added in future updates.

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Edmonton 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
2 Moscow 🇷🇺 Russia
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Roughened Darkling Beetle in Moscow?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Roughened Darkling Beetle sighting in Moscow on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 911th most-seen of the 1111 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Roughened Darkling Beetle in Moscow?

Any time of year

In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Roughened Darkling Beetle in Moscow on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.

Is Moscow the best place to see a Roughened Darkling Beetle?

Among the best

Of the 2 cities where we can rate Roughened Darkling Beetle sightings, Moscow ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Edmonton (Canada, under 5%).

Where does the Roughened Darkling Beetle sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Roughened Darkling Beetle is recorded against all the insects logged in Moscow (6 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Moscow