About the Diabolical Ironclad Beetle
The diabolical ironclad beetle (Phloeodes diabolicus), formerly classified as Nosoderma diabolicum, is a beetle in the Phloeodes genus. It is native to the California floristic province of California and Baja California, where it is believed to eat fungi growing under rotting tree bark. It is flightless and has a remarkable adult lifespan of eight years, compared to the weeks or months of most adult beetles.
This beetle is noted for its durability. Its thick, densely layered, interlocking elytra, connected to the ventral cuticle by complex lateral support structures, are able to support a maximum force of 149 newtons, or over 15 kilograms or 33.069 lbs.
The species was named for and initially categorized taxonomically by John LeConte. When this species was first identified in the 1800s, it was classified as a member of the Nosoderma genus, as were all of what were later re-classified as Phloeodes. The genus Noserus was also described by LeCont during the 1800s, but was later made synonymous with Phloeodes in 1999, as it was determined that P. diabolicus and P. plicatus (then Nosoderma plicatus), both key species in their genera, belong in the same genus. The entire genus... Wikipedia →
