The Lel Coleoptera ( Cobra beetle )

The Lel Coleoptera ( Believed to have gone extinct 5 million years ago) is an unusual and extraordinary insect that has only recently been sighted again in Australia’s Great Victoria Desert. Scientists are bewildered to how this insect has kept hidden for this amount of time and how many more are there. It’s abilities have made it one of the most fascinating insects to have been discovered on planet earth. Entomologists have stated that is a wonder of evolution as it is perfectly adapted to its environment. Would you recognise this Cobra beetle?

Like a normal insect, it has the same body parts: head, thorax abdomen, mandibles and antennae. Uniquely, it looks like a cross between a scorpion and a beetle. As the Lel Coleoptera is the size of a Mini, it needs to eat about 100 giant tree weta grubs a day. Additionally, it will sometimes eat it’s own kind. It has an iridescent shell with two large wing cases on the thorax, each holding two wings. It’s long segmented tail can stand up to a height of 13 foot and can spray a deadly neurotoxic and cytotoxic venom. It has two claws that allow it to grip its prey to prevent escape. On the back of its armoured head it has a third eye, like a Bearded Dragon. Contrary to popular belief, it can not see like its other eyes but it can detect changes in light. This allows it to avoid airborne predators.

Generally, the Lel Coleoptera has mandibles that are far too large for it’s size. This allows it to carry larger prey back to its burrow. Being so large, you would expect it to be rather clumsy, however, its compound eyes and four wings allow it to be very nimble. Incredibly, this insect can run at speeds up to 65 miles an hour! Unbelievably, it does not not need another one of its kind to reproduce as both male and female Cobra beetles can produce fertilised eggs! The Lel Coleoptera has developed a shell that their abnormally hot blood heats up to temperatures of up to 45 degrees Celsius, allowing it to burn predators. This range of abilities make scientists question if this creature originated on another planet.