Tapering Darkling Beetle
A nocturnal insect at Lake Baringo, Rift Valley, Kenya. Oct. 2016. Length about 12 mm.
Darkling beetles are very toughly build insects most of which cannot fly. Their movements over the ground tend to be slow and methodical. The larvae live in the soil or sometimes within nests of ants, termites or rodents. Adults are omnivorous and often long-lived. Many can emit foul-smelling liquid when threatened or disturbed. No doubt numerous, diverse species occur in Kenya.