Edrotes ventricosus
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~30%
Edrotes ventricosus, the hairy robot beetle or desert hairy robot beetle, is a species of darkling beetle within the family Tenebrionidae. This species is found in the southwestern region of North America, inhabiting desert environments in the southwestern United States (California, Nevada, Arizona) and northwestern Mexico (Baja California, Sonora). Individuals are round in shape and grow to sizes of 6.4-10 millimeters, appearing black in coloration with hairs on its dorsal side. It is herbivorous, feeding on various plants both native and introduced. Plants this species feeds on include saltgrass, cheat grass, saltwort, and wild onion. Individuals are active from the seasons of early spring to late winter, with those found in the southern portion of its range being active year-round. Adults may also come out in winter to feed on warmer days. This species can be found as pets for being an easy to keep insect that appear 'cute' with their small round body shape and 'fuzzy' appearance. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Death Valley National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report an Edrotes ventricosus sighting in Joshua Tree National Park on a given day, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 121st most-seen of the 190 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
January–February, April and September–November
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report an Edrotes ventricosus in Joshua Tree National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March, May–August and December, the lowest months.
Between 1 and 4 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Edrotes ventricosus sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Edrotes ventricosus sightings, Joshua Tree National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Death Valley National Park (United States, about 10%).
Same family: Tenebrionidae
The closest relatives of the Edrotes ventricosus that you can see in Joshua Tree National Park (family Tenebrionidae, Darkling Beetles) are Armored Stink Beetle (about 30%), Eleodes grandicollis (about 20%) and Rough-Lipped Darkling Beetle (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Edrotes ventricosus is recorded against all the insects logged in Joshua Tree National Park (8 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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.
