Black Pintail Beetle: Tomoxioda aterrima

Tumbling Flower Beetle on African Daisy

Tumbling Flower Beetle

Filiformis Antennae of Tumbling Flower Beetle

Location: Western Australia, South West Region

Season: Summer, December

Class Insecta

Order: Coleoptera

Suborder: Polyphaga

Superfamily: Tenebrionoidea  

Family: Mordellidae (Tumbling Flower Beetles)

Updated on 2/12/2015
Correction of identfication: This beetle looks like a Black Pintail Beetle - Tomoxioda aterrima
Originally Identified as Tumbling Flower Beetle


A tiny black insect with shimmering gold and silver bands was found on the African Daisy flower. It is the Tumbling Flower Beetle Black Pintail Beetle; Tomoxioda aterrima. The pintail, which is a projection of the abdomen and its arched back are prominent features. What made me think it was a beetle is the filiformis antennae (present in certain beetles and cockroaches). The behaviour of the beetle confirmed my diagnosis. It rolled itself up with its pointy tail, fell upside down - played dead, and just waited there for the predator (me with my camera pointed close to it) to go away. It leapt and jumped out to disappear from my sight. The tumbling action got me worried for the little one but the fact that this action is a defence mechanism put my mind at ease. It must be okay somewhere.

Reference: Bug Guide
Brisbane Insects