About Edrotes ventricosus LeConte, 1851
Edrotes ventricosus, commonly called the hairy robot beetle or desert hairy robot beetle, is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae. This species occurs in southwestern North America, where it lives in desert environments of the southwestern United States (California, Nevada, Arizona) and northwestern Mexico (Baja California, Sonora). Individual beetles have a round body shape, grow to between 6.4 and 10 millimeters in size, and are solid black with hairs covering their dorsal side. It is a herbivorous species that feeds on a variety of both native and introduced plants; recorded host plants include saltgrass, cheat grass, saltwort, and wild onion. Across most of its range, individuals are active from early spring through late winter, while populations in the southern part of the species’ range are active year-round. Adult beetles may also emerge to feed during winter on warmer days. This species is kept as a pet, because it is easy to care for and many people consider it cute due to its small round body and fuzzy appearance.
