Ma'kech

Zopherus chilensis

FAMILY

Zopheridae

TAXONOMY

Zophorus [sic] chilensis Gray, 1832. Type locality not specified.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Jeweled beetle.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Grows to 1.3–1.6 in (34–40 mm). Extremely hard exoskeleton; rough back is white with irregular black blotches.

DISTRIBUTION

Southern Mexico to Venezuela and Colombia.

HABITAT

Found on bark of dead trees.

BEHAVIOR

When disturbed, adults tuck in their legs and play dead.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Larvae presumably feed on fungal hyphae in rotten wood; adults eat cereals in captivity.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Nothing is known.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

Living beetles are adorned with beads, tethered with a gold chain, and worn as living costume jewelry as traditional reminder of an ancient Yucatecan legend.