Common Name: Azores Flame Beetle

Latin Name: Tarphius flammus

Specimen Sex: Female

First Described: AD 2068

Description and Habitat: Having evolved from the flightless ironclad beetles of Falial Island in the Azores, Tarphius flammus are now found throughout the entire archipelago, playing a critical role in maintaining the pristine volcanic ecosystems, one of the most important contributors to nutrient cycling, soil health, and natural pest control. First discovered in a very isolated area of the Capelinhos caldera at the western edge of the island, it was originally thought its distinctive exoskeleton was for camouflage in this magmatic landscape, a bleached craggy gash across the island that frequently bursts into flames; further research has shown it was, in fact, the drastic increase in precipitation over the 21st century that caused Tarphius flammus to evolve such a curled, spiked carapace; like all ironclad beetles, the shell of T. flammus can withstand a crushing force of up to 149 newtons, however its most advantageous adaptation are its modified elytra, now dramatic barbed extensions that cause it to get caught or snared on the rugged terrain of the mountainous landscapes and stop it from being washed away by the very high rainfall and mudslides now common due to climate change.

Reproduction: Historically, adult ironclad beetles are more active in seeking a mate after the monsoon in warmer months, and now the Azores are situated in the reclassified Neo-Tropical Zone, T. flammus’ mating seasons have extended to year-round. Females lay up to 40 eggs in rotting wood bark, from which worm-like larvae hatch, tunneling through and consuming the decaying cellulose matter. With an increase in size each time, Azore Beetle larvae molts are dependent on heat and moisture levels (the higher the levels, the larger the insect) before undergoing transformation into the immobile pupal stage whilst developing their final body structures, emerging as fully formed adults, their shell unfurling and the exoskeleton completely hardening within a few hours of contact with air.

Life Span: up to 10 years.