With simple care, they can live from three months to over a year. Can these beetles bite? No, they are completely harmless. Their only defense is to release a mildly offensive odor.

What happens if a darkling beetle bites you?

When the bite happens, the beetle releases a chemical substance that can cause the skin to blister. The blister usually heals within a few days and causes no permanent damage. … A bite from this type of beetle may cause considerable pain that could last up to a day or two.

Are darkling beetles good pets?

Head-standing darkling beetle, Eleodes acuticauda (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Orange County, CA. … These beetles can serve as great pets – even for children! They don’t move too fast, they are durable and resilient when dropped due to their hardened outer shell called elytra.