Darkling beetle (likely stink beetle)

Dry, open habitats such as deserts, scrublands, grasslands, and gardens; commonly found under debris or on soil.

Adults eat decaying plant matter, fungi, seeds, and occasionally live vegetation; larvae feed mainly on organic debris and roots.

Mostly nocturnal and ground-dwelling. When threatened, many Eleodes species raise their abdomen and release irritating defensive chemicals; development occurs through complete metamorphosis.

They are not dangerous to people and do not bite defensively, though their secretion can irritate skin or eyes. They recycle nutrients and serve as prey for birds, reptiles, and small mammals.