The Mexican Maquech Beetle belongs to the Zopherus chilensis species. This species is widespread in Mexico and Venezuela. It is identifiable by body size ranges from 34-46 mm long and 13-17 mm wide and is characterized by a hard exoskeleton sand color, with small black bumps, resembling a mottled appearance. Zopherus chilensis lacks wings and is therefore, flightless. The body is divided into three main segments: the head, thorax, and abdomen. Beetles have three pairs of legs, one pair of antennae, and a pair of compound eyes. The life cycle of the Maquech Beetle goes from an egg, to a larva, to a pupa, to the imago stage. Female Maquech Beetles can lay an average of a couple thousand eggs in a lifetime. Both larvae and adults of the Zopherus genus feed on the organic matter they find under the bark of dead and decaying trees. The Mexican Maquech Beetle has a life expectancy of one to four years. |