The churchyard beetle is known in Maltese as il-ħanfusa tal-kantina, and as its name suggests it is mostly found in damp places, such as basements and cellars. This species, which is one of the largest beetles found on our islands, may grow to a length of between 27 to 37mm.

The churchyard beetle (scientific name: blaps gigas) is a jet black beetle with tough and hard forewings with prolonged tips.

These modified wings have fused together to form an armoured coating, helping to protect the insect’s flattened body from loss of moisture and mechanical damage, but which means that they cannot be used for flying; rendering the insect flightless.

The rounded and rather small head bears two long, 11-jointed antennae and mouthparts similar to those of a grasshopper. These mandibles are specially adapted to allow the beetle to grasp, crush or cut its food.

The legs, which are robust and angular-shaped, bear a set of long claws at their end.

The churchyard beetle is a scavenger and feeds both on fresh and decaying vegetation. When disturbed this beetle has the interesting practice of doing a “headstand” by extending its hindlegs and pushing against the ground, thus tilting its body so its tail end is upwards.

Although common, the churchyard beetle is still part of our Maltese heritage, with the very important role of recycling minerals from dead vegetation back into our soil.

More information may be obtained by e-mail: nature.requests@mepa.org.mt.

The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. Malta, together with many other countries around the globe, is carrying out a number of initiatives to celebrate life on earth and the value of biodiversity for our lives. We are all invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth: Biodiversity.