The Rain Beetle

The Rain Beetle

From Critter Chat by Critter Chat

December 4, 2025 · 29 min · Episode 21

About this episode

The episode features an interview with UC Davis PhD student Kaitai Liu discussing the Rain Beetle and its significance in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

With the rainy season upon us in the Sierra Nevada foothills, a critter emerges to look for his mate. The Rain Beetle, a species related to the Scarab, a beetle symbolizing restoration, rebirth and good luck in ancient Egyptian culture, makes its first appearance with the early rains. Possessing a chunky body that can tolerate colder weather and “eyelashes” to sense its surroundings, this beetle lives only a few days to make a purposeful flight. Critter Chat interviews UC Davis PhD student Kaitai Liu as he begins his journey to better understand this charismatic and harmless native critter and the various species of the Rain Beetle, Pleocoma, living in the Sierra Nevada foothills and Pacific states of North America. Inspired by his grandparents to get outside and “off the computer” to look at bugs, he is now following his dream and researching the natural world. Teachers are encouraged to use Critter Chat in their classrooms. Vocabulary words like “lamellae” and “pheromones” are discussed to better understand the life of a beetle. Critter Chat tells stories of Sierra Nevada wildlife featuring interviews with experts in the field. Critter Chat is locally produced and hosted by…

People in this episode

Hosts: Susan Brandt, Marney Blair

Guest: Kaitai Liu

Topics covered

  • Rain Beetle
  • Sierra Nevada
  • wildlife
  • entomology
  • research
  • nature

Keywords

  • Rain Beetle
  • Sierra Nevada
  • Kaitai Liu
  • entomology
  • wildlife
  • nature
  • beetle
  • research

Sponsors

KVMR, Rational Animal, Chan Family Optometry, Wild Birds Unlimited

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: UC Davis

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