Gold Beetle

About

Common Names

Classification

Large horned beetles with a distinctive shells which resemble unpolished gold, electrum, copper, or bronze. These beetles are omnivorous scavengers found in semi-arid regions such as the foothills of the Darlom Mountains. Often found near deposits of precious metals, they are believed to actually eat the raw ore and incorporate the metal into their carapaces. An uncommon practice by some miners is to catch and cage these beetles to later release as a means of prospecting for new ore veins or placer deposits, as it is believed the beetle will seek out the metallic food. The beetle is a well known to the miners guild and considered a symbol of good luck.

Description

Size

<--number--> kg (<--number--> pounds), <--height--> m ( <--height--> feet/inches), <length--> as appropriate

Appearance

Sexual Dimorphism

Variance

Ecology

Habitat

Diet

Behaviour

Social Grouping

Temperament

Intelligence

Reproduction

Gold beetles are believed to hatch from small nuggets of the very metals they consume as food. Of course the myths fall short of the truth. They lay eggs like other beetles.

Domestication

General

Resources

Some use them to illuminate and decorate religious art like gold leaf, but they tend to lose their lustre when turned into a usable paste.