Invertebrates

See our handy guide to critters found in local homes and our Central Coast Butterfly FAQ. Browse the insects and other terrestrial arthropods we’ve identified. Check out local marine invertebrates, particularly bivalve mollusks and intertidal organisms.

Invertebrate to ID

Hello!

Can you tell what this is?

Thanks!

Kevin, Santa Barbara - August 13, 2025

Curator Response

Hi Kevin,

This is a charcoal beetle, Melanophila consputa, which is a type of metallic wood-boring beetle. Beetles in the genus Melanophila are specialized to lay their eggs in trees that have been recently burned by wildfires. They have specialized infrared sensors that allow them detect fire, and as a result, are occasionally attracted to bonfires.

Sincerely, 

Schlinger Chair of Entomology Alex Harman, Ph.D.

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