Sometimes Stinky is Best - EKO Stop 7

A darkling beetle, standing with its backside in the air ready to release its foul-smelling liquid.

NPS Photo

While the darkling beetles are easy to see against the white sand, they are not defenseless. When scared, the darkling beetle sticks its backside in the air. They will spray a foul-smelling liquid from its posterior to scare off predators. The smell is like an oil-based fuel called kerosene. This smell is not pleasant. As a result, some people incorrectly call them stink bugs!