Whilst birding the Hanidh area I came across a small gathering of Fat-bodied darkling Apentandes arabicus. This is a small beetle reaching sizes up to 9mm with the males smaller being only to 6mm in size. Black in color with row of golden hair between the thorax and the head. Antennae end in a club-like shape. Thorax and elytra generally fused together with a rounded body. They feed on anything from plant material to animal remains, are fast moving and active during the day. Males will copulate females for a few hours at a time. Female will carry on feeding while carrying male. Eggs are deposited under the soil close to the roots of plants with the larvae able to scavenge on almost anything. They occur throughout the Arabian Peninsula. The bottom two photos were taken by Phil Roberts with his phone and he has kindly allowed me to use them.
