Order Coleoptera - Beetles - BugGuide.Net Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) Order Coleoptera - Beetles grubs (larvae only), white grubs (especially larvae of scarab beetles) Spanish: escarabajo Co`le*op"te*ra (coe-lee-OP-ter-rah) Synonyms and other taxonomic changes The Coleoptera have recently undergone massive taxonomic changes( 1 )( 2 )( 3 ), although the superfamilial arrangement appears settled( 4 ). Many groups once treated at family rank are now subfamilies, and vice versa. If you can't find your group: search with a wildcard (e.g.

Pselaphi* - the former Pselaphidae is now treated as a subfamily of the Staphylinidae), OR go to the Taxonomy tab and click the "view all" link to see the list of all the subordinate taxa on one page Recent changes in higher taxonomy followed in the Guide but not reflected (or not fully implemented) in( 1 )( 2 ) Scydmaenidae sunk into Staphylinidae Ceratocanthidae sunk into Hybosoridae Anobiidae are now Ptinidae members of the cerylonid clade recently moved from Cucujoidea to a separate superfamily, Coccinelloidea, and underwent massive splitting Brachypteridae are now Kateretidae Cybocephalidae restored( 5 ) Monommatidae and Colydiidae sunk into Zopheridae Bruchidae sunk into Chrysomelidae (had a separate family chapter (121)( 2 ) but were also included into the key to subfamilies( 2 ) and the synopsis of the higher classification of NA Chrysomelidae( 2 )) Rhysodida

e are increasingly treated within Carabidae (arrangement not yet implemented in the Guide) Derodontoidea per Lawrence et al.

(2010) Akalyptoischiidae split from Latridiidae Dryophthoridae & Brachyceridae split from Curculionidae (although there are signs both may be back) Explanation of Names Coleoptera: Greek koleon 'sheath' + pteron 'wing'; Aristotle already called beetles 'koleopteros' (κολεοπτερος) to refer to the hardened front wings protecting the membranous hind wings. English beetle means "the little biter", derived from Old English bītan, "to bite" (Patridge 1958) Numbers The largest order in the animal kingdom, with close to 390,000 described species in almost 30,000 genera of 176 families worldwide( 6 ), representing about 40% of known insects. About 25,000 described (close to 28,000 estimated) spp.

in ~130 families are known from our area( 7 )( 8 ), ~8200 in Canada( 9 ) Genera missing in the Guide are listed in( 10 ) FAMILIES REPRESENTED IN OUR AREA (adapted from( 3 )): Order Coleoptera 0.3-200 mm Identification Adult: elytra (forewings) horny or leathery, almost always meeting in a straight line down the back and covering the membranous hindwings that are usually longer than the elytra, and folded beneath the elytra when not in use. In some groups the elytra are short and do not fully cover the abdomen. One or both pairs of wings are rarely reduced or absent. The antennae typically 11-segmented (rarely more or less) and variable in shape. The tarsi 3- to 5-segmented. Abdomen commonly has 5 segments visible, sometimes with up to 8. Mouthparts of adults and most larvae adapted for chewing.

Larva: variable in form, hardness of body, and development of appendages, but commonly with hardened (sclerotized) head capsule, 3 pairs of thoracic legs and soft body VISUAL GUIDE TO FAMILIESNot aligned with the scheme above!

• Numbers in brackets correspond to American Beetles chapter( 1 )( 2 ) • Thumbnails-only version Order Coleoptera Family Cupedidae - Reticulated Beetles [1] Family Micromalthidae - Telephone-pole Beetles [2] Family Sphaeriusidae - Minute Bog Beetles [3] Family Hydroscaphidae - Skiff Beetles [4] Family Rhysodidae - Wrinkled Bark Beetles [5] Family Carabidae - Ground Beetles [6] Family Gyrinidae - Whirligig Beetles [7] Family Haliplidae - Crawling Water Beetles [8] Family Trachypachidae - False Ground Beetles [9] Family Noteridae - Burrowing Water Beetles [10] Family Amphizoidae - Trout-stream Beetles [11] Family Dytiscidae - Predaceous Diving Beetles [12] Family Hydrophilidae - Water Scavenger Beetles [13] Family Sphaeritidae - False Clown Beetles [14] Family Histeridae - Clown Beetles [15] Family Hydraenidae - Minute Moss

 Beetles [16] Family Ptiliidae - Featherwinged Beetles [17] Family Agyrtidae - Primitive Carrion Beetles [18] Family Leiodidae - Round Fungus Beetles [19] Family Silphidae - Carrion Beetles [21] Family Staphylinidae - Rove Beetles [20 & 22] Family Lucanidae - Stag Beetles [23] Family Diphyllostomatidae - False Stag Beetles [24] Family Passalidae - Bess Beetles [25] Family Glaresidae - Enigmatic Scarab Beetles [26] Family Trogidae - Hide Beetles [27] Family Pleocomidae - Rain Beetles [28] Family Geotrupidae - Earth-Boring Scarab Beetles [29] Family Ochodaeidae - Sand-loving Scarab Beetles [30] Family Hybosoridae - Scavenger Scarab Beetles [31 & 32] Family Glaphyridae - Bumble Bee Scarab Beetles [33] Family Scarabaeida

e - Scarab Beetles [34] Family Eucinetidae - Plate-thigh Beetles [35] Family Clambidae - Minute Beetles [36] Family Scirtidae - Marsh Beetles [37] Family Dascillidae - Soft-bodied Plant Beetles [38] Family Rhipiceridae - Cicada Parasite Beetles [39] Family Schizopodidae - False Jewel Beetles [40] Family Buprestidae - Metallic Wood-boring Beetles [41] Family Byrrhidae - Pill Beetles [42] Family Elmidae - Riffle Beetles [43] Family Dryopidae - Long-toed Water Beetles [44] Family Lutrochidae - Travertine Beetles [45] Family Limnichidae - Minute Marsh-loving Beetles [46] Family Heteroceridae - Variegated Mud-loving Beetles [47] Family Psephenidae - Water Penny Beetles [48] Family Ptilodactylidae - Toe-winged Beetles [49] Family Chelonariidae - Turtle Beet

les [50] Family Eulichadidae - Forest Stream Beetles [51] Family Callirhipidae - Callirhipid Cedar Beetles [52] Family Artematopodidae - Soft-bodied Plant Beetles [53] Family Brachypsectridae - Texas Beetles [54] Family Cerophytidae - Rare Click Beetles [55] Family Eucnemidae - False Click Beetles [56] Family Throscidae - False Metallic Wood-boring Beetles [57] Family Elateridae - Click Beetles [58] Family Lycidae - Net-winged Beetles [59] Family Telegeusidae - Long-lipped Beetles [60] Family Phengodidae - Glowworm Beetles [61] Family Lampyridae - Fireflies [62] Family Omethidae - False Soldier Beetles [63] Family Cantharidae - Soldier Beetles [64] Family Jacobsoniidae - Jacobson's Beetles [65] Family Derodontidae - Tooth-necked Fungus Beetles [66] Family Nosod

endridae - Wounded-tree Beetles [67] Family Dermestidae - Carpet Beetles [68] Family Bostrichidae - Horned Powder-post Beetles [69] Family Anobiidae - Death-watch and Spider Beetles [70] Family Sphindidae - Cryptic Slime Mold Beetles [75] Family Kateretidae - Short-winged Flower Beetles [76] Family Nitidulidae - Sap-feeding Beetles [77] Family Smicripidae - Palmetto Beetles [78] Family Monotomidae - Root-eating Beetles [79] Family Silvanidae - Silvanid Flat Bark Beetles [80] Family Passandridae - Parasitic Flat Bark Beetles [81] Family Cucujidae - Flat Bark Beetles [82] Family Laemophloeidae - Lined Flat Bark Beetles [83] Family Phalacridae - Shining Flower Beetles [84] Family Cryptophagidae - Silken Fungus Beetles [85] Family Erotylidae - Pleasing Fungus Beet

les [86 & 87] Family Byturidae - Fruitworm Beetles [88] Family Biphyllidae - False Skin Beetles [89] Family Bothrideridae - Dry Bark Beetles [90] Family Cerylonidae - Minute Bark Beetles [91] Family Endomychidae - Handsome Fungus Beetles [92] Family Coccinellidae - Ladybird Beetles [93] Family Corylophidae - Minute Hooded Beetles [94] Family Akalyptoischiidae - Akalyptoischiid Scavenger Beetles Family Latridiidae - Minute Brown Scavenger Beetles [95] Family Mycetophagidae - Hairy Fungus Beetles [96] Family Archeocrypticidae - Cryptic Fungus Beetles [97] Family Ciidae - Minute Tree-fungus Beetles [98] Family Tetratomidae - Polypore Fungus Beetles [99] Family Melandryidae - False Darkling Beetles [100] Family Mordellidae - T

umbling Flower Beetles [101] Family Ripiphoridae - Wedge-shaped Beetles [102] Family Zopheridae - Ironclad Beetles [103, 104 & 105] Family Tenebrionidae - Darkling Beetles [106] Family Prostomidae - Jugular-horned Beetles [107] Family Synchroidae - Synchroa Bark Beetles [108] Family Oedemeridae - False Blister Beetles [109] Family Stenotrachelidae - False Longhorn Beetles [110] Family Meloidae - Blister Beetles [111] Family Mycteridae - Palm and Flower Beetles [112] Family Boridae - Conifer Bark Beetles [113] Family Pythidae - Dead Log Beetles [114] Family Pyrochroidae - Fire-Colored Beetles [115] Family Salpingidae - Narrow-waisted Bark Beetles [116] Family Anthicidae - Antlike Flower Beetles [117] Family Aderidae

 - Antlike Leaf Beetles [118] Family Ischaliidae - Broad-hipped Flower Beetles Family Scraptiidae - False Flower Beetles [119] Family Cerambycidae - Longhorned Beetles [120] Family Megalopodidae - Megalopodid Leaf Beetles [122] Family Orsodacnidae - Ravenous Leaf Beetles [123] Family Chrysomelidae - Leaf Beetles [121 & 124] Family Nemonychidae - Pine Flower Snout Beetles [125] Family Anthribidae - Fungus Weevils [126] Family Belidae - Cycad Weevils [127] Family Attelabidae - Leaf Rolling Weevils [128] Family Brentidae - Straight-snouted Weevils [129 & 130] Family Curculionidae - Snout and Bark Beetles [131] Range virtually any terrestrial and freshwater habitat Food various plant, fungal, and animal matter Life Cycle complete metamorphosis ; otherwise, extremely diverse Remarks Many phy

tophagous beetles are serious agricultural and forestry pests; a number of predaceous beetles are considered beneficial because they help control pest populations.

Some beetles feed on museum specimens, clothing, and stored food. A few species transmit bacterial and fungal diseases to plants. Beetles are responsible for pollinating 88% of the 240,000 flowering plants globally ( USDA ). See Also Dermaptera (earwigs) have pincer-like appendages at the tip of the abdomen. Heteroptera (true bugs) have mouthparts adapted for sucking, not chewing; front wings rarely meet in a straight line. Coleoptera (beetles) Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Ecdysozoa > Panarthropoda > Tritocerebra > Arthopoda > Mandibulata > Atelocerata > Panhexapoda > Hexapoda > Insecta (insects) > Dicondyla > Pterygota > Metapterygota > Neoptera > Eumetabola > Holometabola Beetles belong to the order Coleoptera, the largest and most diverse order, not only in the insect class, but in the entire animal kingdom. More than one third of all described animal species are beetles.

Of the 370,000 described species that occur worldwide, about 18,000 occur in southern Africa. Beetles vary in size from minute to very large ( Goliathus) . Beetles have hard sclerotized bodies, 3 pairs of thoracic legs (legs attached to the thorax) and mouthparts that are adapted for chewing (unlike the Hemiptera mouthparts that are adapted tubes for sucking). They usually have 2 pairs of wings. Unlike other insects where both pairs are flexible or membranous, the fore wings are modified into hardened covers called elytra. When the animal is at rest, the hind wings are folded under, and protected by, the elytra. For flight, the elytra are lifted and the hind wings unfold and flap while the elytra are held up and act a stabilisers. However, not all beetles fly. In some cases the elytra are fused, the females are wingless or the hind wings are insufficiently developed for flying. Beetles grow and develop through a process called metamorphosis from egg, larva, pupa to adult.

Beetles (Order: Coleoptera) - Amateur Entomologists' Society (AES) You are: Home > Insects > Insect fact files > Insect groups > Beetles (Order: Coleoptera) Beetles (Order: Coleoptera) Possibly the most well known of Britain's beetles, the Stag beetle Lucanus cervus. The males have large 'antlers' and this gives them their common name. The smaller female does not possess large antlers. Introduction The Order Coleoptera or beetles forms the largest group of insects worldwide with about 370,000 described species . In addition many others have been recognised as new but have not yet been described and a conservative estimate is that at least the same number are still awaiting discovery. For these reasons it is impossible to estimate the true number of beetle species in the world. However, the situation in the British Isles is slightly different and beetle diversity comes third with about 4,100 species, being surpassed by both Diptera (flies) and Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants, etc.).

General features Beetles belong to the Endopterygota or insects having a complete metamorphosis , with a distinct pupal stage between the larval and sexually mature adult stages. A high proportion of beetle species are able to fly and these possess two pairs of wings . In most species the forewings or elytra consist of a pair of hard shells that protect the membranous hindwings which are normally folded away, but hinge outwards during flight. Flightless species may have reduced hindwings concealed beneath normal elytra or sometimes the elytra are fused together with no hindwings at all. Beetles can be found in almost every imaginable terrestrial or aquatic habitat but many more species are found in tropical countries than in places with more temperate climates. Continental land masses tend to be richer in beetles than isolated islands, although these often support unique communities of species. Some species live deep underground in caves and a few are even able to survive in the inter-tidal zone along the seashore. There is enormous variation in size, body mass and form, the smallest adults being less than 1 mm long and the largest about 20 cm . Some longhorn species possess enormously long antennae, the variety is almost endless.

Special features A number of beetle species are dependant upon other insects for their survival. For example, some ground beetles (Carabidae) are known to be parasitic on the early stages of other beetles - sometimes just one particular species. Other beetles breed in the nests of various Hymenoptera (bees, wasps and ants). Collecting and studying beetles To study most families of beetles it is necessary to collect a few specimens and make a reference collection. This is because many beetles need to be examined under a microscope in order for them to be identified. Setting Should a reference collection be required, there are several ways of preparing beetle specimens for permanent storage. The method chosen is partly one of personal preference but much depends on the beetle group chosen for study. The aim should always be to display the most essential characters needed for identification purposes. Large specimens may be direct-pinned by passing a stainless steel pin through the right elytron about one third from its base. It is best to fix smaller specimens onto specially manufactured white card mounts, with antennae and legs arranged symmetrically, using a water-soluble gum.

Although a certain degree of neatness helps when comparing one species of beetle with another it is not essential to 'set' specimens perfectly but the degree of neatness is a decision each entomologist must make. Gum tragacanth or any clear water soluable gum is equally suitable (the AES links directory has a list of entomological equipment suppliers ). The latest edition of The Coleopterist's Handbook provides all the essential information required. Identification Beetles can be identified by referring to keys in a range of excellent books currently available. If a book on a particular family is out of print it is often possible to obtain a second-hand copy. Many dealers have searchable web sites for this purpose. With a little experience it is possible to identify specimens to family, and often genus level on site. This greatly speeds up the identification process. It is also suggested that Web sites with a good photo galleries, e.g., The Coleopterist are visited. Recommended reading This site focuses on the leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) of Europe and the Mediterranean Subregion. Features include high quality photos of mounted specimens of almost every European chrysomelid. An extensive gallery of photos of live beetles from Europe.

There are also numerous links to other insect Web sites. Features include: an extensive picture gallery of mounted specimens (including genitalia), list of all central European species and many useful links to other beetle web sites. The official website for The Coleopterist journal. Features include: a comprehensive checklist of British Coleoptera, photo gallery, links to county record centres, national recording schemes, biographical dictionary of British coleopterists, how to subscribe to The Coleopterist etc. ENT 425 | General Entomology | Resource Library | Compendium [coleoptera] Head well-developed with ocelli and chewing mouthparts.

Three pairs of thoracic legs; no abdominal prolegs Body form: Scarabaeiform -- Grub-like, fleshy, c-shaped body Elateriform -- Wireworms; elongate, cylindrical, with a hard exoskeleton and tiny legs Adults: Chewing mouthparts (sometimes located at the tip of a beak or snout) Front wings (elytra) are hard and serve as covers for the hind wings; meet in a line down the middle of the back Hind wings large, membranous, folded beneath the elytra Tarsi 2- to 5-segmented Economic Importance Many beetles are regarded as major pests of agricultural plants and stored products. They attack all parts of living plants as well as processed fibers, grains, and wood products. Scavengers and wood boring beetles are useful as decomposers and recyclers of organic nutrients. Predatory species, such as lady beetles, are important biological control agents of aphids and scale insects. Major Families Cantharidae (soldier beetles) -- herbivores and predators Bug Bytes Coleoptera is the largest order in the animal kingdom. It includes 40% of all insects and nearly 30% of all animal species.

The smallest beetle is the fringed ant beetle, Nanosella fungi (family Ptiliidae). At 0.25 mm in length it is some 16 million times smaller in volume than the largest beetle, Goliathus giganteus (family Scarabaeidae), which may have a body length up to 10 cm. Two families of Coleoptera are bioluminescent (able to produce light). Fireflies (family Lampyridae) and glowworms (family Phengodidae) have light-producing organs in the abdomen. In some species, the females are wingless and larviform. Ancient Egyptians believed that a scarab beetle rolled the sun across the sky each day. The scarab icon became associated with Ra, the sun god, and scarab beetles, Scarabaeus sacer, were worshiped as a symbol of immortality. Over 1000 beetle species are known to live as predators, parasites or commensals in the nests of ants. They gain entrance to the nest by mimicking the odor and behavior of the ants. Bombardier beetles, Brachinus spp.

(family Carabidae), have the ability to discharge a defensive spray of hot quinones. Two chemical reactants are stored in adjacent compartments of an abdominal gland and combine explosively when the insect is disturbed. Males of many stag beetles (family Lucanidae) and scarab beetles (family Scarabaeidae) have enlarged mandibles or protruding horns which are used in courtship and in ritualized fights with other males. The Spanish fly, Lytta vesicatoria (family Meloidae), is a source of cantharadin. This chemical, once thought to be an aphrodesiac, is now used as a mating stimulant when breeding cattle and in the treatment of certain urogenital diseases. Beetles (Order Coleoptera) - Museum of Tropical Qld Museum of Tropical Qld Skip to section page navigation Enter search term... Common species There are more kinds of beetles than any other group of animals. Almost a third of all animal species are beetles. In Australia alone, almost 23 000 different species have been named, but there may be as many as 80 000 Australian beetle species.

Beetles belong to the Order Coleoptera. Beetles are one of the most easily recognised groups of insects, despite their remarkable diversity of colour and shape. Even young children are able to identify ladybeetles and christmas beetles. Beetles are one of the most successful groups of organisms on the planet, occupying most habitats and taking advantage of many food sources. One of the major factors contributing to the success of beetles is their compact body design and in particular their tough protective front wings. Thousands of Washing Beetles Phyllotocus rufipennis (Scarabaeidae) emerge in summer to feed on eucalypt blossoms but often mistakenly swarm on other white objects, such as drying washing, tennis players or even brides. Adult Giant Pine Weevils, Eurhamphus fasciculatus (Curculionidae), congregate on the trunks of dying Hoop Pines (Araucaria cunninghamii) in south-east Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales. Their white, legless larvae feed on the inner bark of the same trees. Piedish Beetles, Helea spp. (Tenebrionidae), are inhabitants of arid and semi-arid sand country.

Their broad, oval shape, with an upturned edge all the way around, is thought to protect their legs from predators. Larvae of cockchafer beetles like Rhopaea magnicornis (Scarabaeidae) are white curl-grubs that feed on plant roots. Large numbers of these adult beetles emerge from the ground after summer rains and fly backwards and forwards above lawns at dusk. The most distinctive feature of beetles is their wing covers which are also called elytra. These covers are actually the thickened and hardened fore wings. The wing covers have lost their wing venation but often have closely spaced grooves or rows of punctures. Beetles use their more delicate hind wings for flying. When they are not being used they are folded beneath the wing covers which meet in a straight line down the back. Most beetles have wing covers that cover the whole of their abdomen. Some have shortened wing covers leaving one or often more segments of the abdomen exposed. Most adult beetles are compact with a heavily armoured body. They usually have mouthparts with a strong pair of jaws designed for chewing. Take care if you try to pick up a large longhorned beetle, their powerful jaws can deliver a painful bite.

Beetle larvae come in as many varied shapes and sizes as the adults. Sometimes there is no easy way to tell if a particular larva belongs to a beetle. Many are grub-like with a soft body but most have a well-developed, armoured head. Most have three pairs of jointed legs on the thorax, but in some groups like weevils, there are no legs at all. Some beetle larvae look very similar to the caterpillars of moths and butterflies, but they do not have fleshy false legs on the abdomen. The jaws of the Poinciana Longicorn, Agrianome spinicollis (Cerambycidae), are large and sharp. A stag beetle, Lamprima latreillei (Lucanidae), clearly showing the line down the middle of the back where the wing covers meet. The wing covers of beetles are actually their forewings. They lack wing veins but often have many parallel grooves or rows of punctures like this rare darkling beetle, Axynaon championi (Tenebrionidae), from arid Queensland.

Many beetles like this Fiddler Beetle, Eupoecila australasiae (Scarabaeidae), have bright, glossy colours. Some of the most commonly encountered beetle larvae are the white 'curl grubs' of scarab beetles such as this larva of the Rhinocerus beetle, Xylotrupes ulysses. Beetles are found in almost every imaginable habitat on land. Many species have also invaded freshwater. Many beetles feed on living plants as adults or larvae, or both. Some, like leaf beetles, feed on the outside of plants, munching on the leaves or flowers. Other plant feeders are concealed, especially as larvae, boring inside fruit, seeds, stems or wood. Other beetle species feed on plant matter, but only after it has been broken down by other organisms such as fungi. Numerous groups of beetles are also specialised to feed on the fungi themselves. Other beetles are predators, usually feeding on a range of insects and other small invertebrates. But some are more specialised. For example, some ground beetles have special jaws designed to capture and hold slippery, slimy prey such as snails and earthworms.

Beetles can be of great economic importance with many species attacking crops, destroying timber and invading our stored food. Others are beneficial, consuming insect pests or weedy plants. In contrast, beetles are of little importance in transmitting diseases of humans and animals. Beetles undergo abrupt metamorphosis and pass through a larval and pupal stage before transforming into winged adults. Variable Lady Beetle Coelophora inaequalis larva. Variable Lady Beetle Coelophora inaequalis pupae. Like other beetles, the Variable Lady Beetle Coelophora inaequalis (Coccinellidae), passes through larval and pupal stages before emerging as an adult (see three images above). The adults and larvae of lady beetles are beneficial predators of aphids and other sap-sucking insects. Larva of Twenty Eight Spotted Lady Beetle, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Coccinellidae).

Most lady beetles are beneficial predators, but the larvae (top) and adults (above) of the Twenty Eight Spotted Lady Beetle, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Coccinellidae), eat the leaves of tomatoes, potatoes and related plants. The rainforest dwelling Snail-eating Carabid, Pamborus alternans (Carabidae), feeds on snails and earthworms, which it grips with specialised jaws. It can squirt a pungent, burning fluid from the rear when handled. Fireflies, such as Atyphella scintillans, are actually beetles. This species is found in moist forests in south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales. The winged males (3 in foreground) flash lights at the tip of their abdomens to signal wingless females (in background) on the ground. When handled roughly, the day-flying Long-nosed Lycid Beetle, Porrostoma rhipidium (Lycidae), exudes a toxic milky fluid from the leg joints. The bold colours of these beetles advertise they are distasteful.

Many other harmless insects mimic these beetles such as the moth Cyana meyricki (Arctiidae). Cyana meyricki (Arctiidae) Classification - Insects Orders Illustrated (3-6th) Classification - Insects Orders Illustrated (3-6th) (Printable Version at Bottom) Orders - Looking at 9 Orders of Insects 1) Beetle Order – Coleoptera 2) Mantid & Cockroach Order – Dictyoptera Family – Cockroaches 3) True Fly Order – Diptera Family – True Flies 5) Butterfly & Moth Order – Lepidoptera Family – Butterflies 6) Ant, Bee, & Wasp Order – Hymenoptera Family – Ants 8) Grasshopper & Relatives Order – Orthoptera Family – Grasshoppers 9) Stick & Leaf Insect Order – Phasmida Family – Stick-Insects Cerambycidae - Long-horned Beetles The order Coleoptera includes the beetles. This is the largest order that contains the most species. Wings: They have two pairs of wings. The outside pair (forewings) are hard and protective.

They are called elytra. They split and spread when the insect needs to fly so the soft wings underneath (hind wings) can be used. Mouth Parts: Most have chewing mouthparts. Some have piercing mouthparts. Metamorphosis: They undergo complete (complex) metamorphosis. Significance to Humans: They can be beneficial (i.e. ladybugs), but some families attack food crops and are considered pests. 2) Mantid & Cockroach Order – Dictyoptera Examples of Families: Hymenopodidae – Orchid Mantid They have long, thin antennae with many segments. Wings: They usually have two pairs of wings. The forewings are often adapted as tougher coverings and held flat over the back. Some lack wings. Mouth Parts: They have biting mouthparts. Metamorphosis: They undergo incomplete (simple) metamorphosis with the nymphs looking like small versions of the adults (with underdeveloped wings). Significance to Humans: Though some are considered pests (cockroaches), many are beneficial (praying mantis) preying on other pest insects.

3) True Fly Order – Diptera Examples of Families: Muscidae - House Flies These are known as the true flies. Wings: They have one pair of wings - the hind wings are adapted structures called halterers which may help with flying. Mouth Parts: They have piercing and sucking mouthparts. Some are parasites. Metamorphosis: They undergo complete (complex) metamorphosis. Significance to Humans: They are considered serious pests. They destroy crops and spread many diseases, including malaria. 4) Mayfly Order – Ephemeroptera Examples of Families: Family – Mayflies Adults only survive for a couple of days to mate and lay eggs. They hatch from underwater larva and fly above the water, mate, lay eggs and die. They have long thread-like legs and two long tail strands. Wings: They have two pairs of triangle-shaped wings - the hind wings are much smaller. Mouth Parts: Adults do not eat, so have no mouthparts. Metamorphosis: They undergo incomplete (simple) metamorphosis. Significance to Humans: They are harmless to humans and fishing flies made to look like them have helped many fishermen catch fish!

5) Butterfly & Moth Order – Lepidoptera Examples of Families Sphingidae - Sphinx Moths Arctiidae – Isabella (wooly bears) and Tiger Moths Butterflies and moths are showy and well-known insects. Butterflies are more commonly active in the daytime as opposed to the more nocturnal moths. Moths have more feathered antennae and hairier bodies than butterflies. Both have larvae that can be destructive to trees and food crops. Wings: As adults they have two pairs of large wings covered with protective scales. Mouth Parts: Adults have sucking mouthparts. Larvae (young stages) have chewing mouthparts. Metamorphosis: They undergo complete (complex) metamorphosis. Significance to Humans: Their young form (larval caterpillars) are considered serious pests and are responsible for crop destruction. Adults, on the other hand, can be beneficial pollinators.

6) Ant, Bee & Wasp Order – Hymenoptera Examples of Families Vespidae - Wasps, Yellowjackets, Hornets Apidae - Honeybees, Bumblebees Many have an odd narrow “waist” between the thorax and the abdomen. Many form colonies with different and distinct roles. Wings: Some have wings (two pairs) and some are wingless. Mouth Parts: Many have chewing mouthparts (ants), though some have sucking mouthparts (honeybees). Metamorphosis: They undergo complete (complex) metamorphosis. Significance to Humans: Though some have painful and venomous stings (wasps), many are very important and beneficial pollinators (bumblebees). 7) Dragonfly Order – Odonata Aeshnidae - Darner Dragonflies Coenagrionidae - Narrow-winged Damselflies Their young (larvae) are called naiads and live in the water (aquatic), so adults are found around wet areas where they will mate and lay eggs. They are predators with large eyes for spotting prey and strong flight for catching prey.

Dragonflies hold their wings flat and out from their bodies, while damselflies hold their wings together and pulled into the body. Wings: They have two pairs of long wings. Mouth Parts: They have chewing mouthparts. Naiads have piercing mouthparts for catching underwater prey. Metamorphosis: They undergo incomplete (simple) metamorphosis. Significance to Humans: They feed on insects (especially mosquitoes), so are considered beneficial. 8) Grasshoppers & Relatives Order – Orthoptera Examples of Families Their back legs are usually large and built for jumping. Wings: They have two pairs of long wings, though some have no wings. Mouth Parts: They have chewing mouthparts. Metamorphosis: They undergo incomplete (simple) metamorphosis with the nymphs looking like small versions of the adults (with underdeveloped wings). Significance to Humans: They can be very destructive to crops. 9) Stick and Leaf Insect Order – Phasmida Examples of Families Heteronemiidae - Common Walkingsticks They have very long, stick-like bodies with long legs and antennae. They are so well camouflaged that they move slowly on their food plants and are rarely seen by predators.

Wings: Most adults in North America are wingless (tropical forms may have wings). Mouth Parts: They have chewing mouthparts. Metamorphosis: They undergo incomplete (simple) metamorphosis with the young looking like small versions of the adults. Significance to Humans: They can be very destructive to some tree species. Click Here Citing Research References When you research information you must cite the reference. Citing for websites is different from citing from books, magazines and periodicals. The style of citing shown here is from the MLA Style Citations (Modern Language Association). When citing a WEBSITE the general format is as follows. Author Last Name, First Name(s). "Title: Subtitle of Part of Web Page, if appropriate." Title: Subtitle: Section of Page if appropriate. Sponsoring/Publishing Agency, If Given. Additional significant descriptive information. Date of Electronic Publication or other Date, such as Last Updated. Day Month Year of access < URL >. Here is an example of citing this page: Amsel, Sheri. "Classification - Insects Orders Illustrated (3-6th)" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2016.

December 29, 2016 < > Coleoptera (Beetle) Information - Facts & Pictures Image Source There are probably more species of beetle on this earth than there are species of plants. Beetles have the ability to adapt to any kind of environment which guarantees an extremely long existence. They appear in every corner of the world, in every kind of habitat but are not known to occur in the sea or in the polar regions. Beetles belong to the order ‘Coleoptera’, pronounced ‘co-le-op-ter-a’. This is the largest order of species in the animal kingdom, even larger than ants! Coleoptera come in all different shapes, sizes and colours. There are about 350,000 named species of beetle in the world and many more species that remain unnamed and undiscovered. Forty percent of all described insect species are beetles and new species are frequently being discovered. Estimates put the total number of species, described and undescribed, at between 5 and 8 million. The body of a Coleoptera is similar to that of other insects and consists of three main parts: Head, Thorax and Abdomen (see Beetle Anatomy ).

Beetle (Coleoptera) Diet Beetles interact with their ecosystems in several ways. They often feed on plants and fungi, break down animal and plant debris and eat other invertebrates. Some species are prey of various animals including birds and mammals. Beetle Elytra One of the most important features of Coleoptera is their ‘elytra’, the hard exoskeletal which covers their wings. The ‘elytra’ helps to protect the beetle but also has many other functions too. Some beetles trap moisture in their wings and the elytra protects it from drying in heat and wind, this means the beetles can travel across arid deserts without dehydrating. Other Coleoptera can live under water because they can store air in their wings, which is again protected by the elytra. Coleoptera (beetles) are most probably the most versatile creatures on earth. The beetles exoskeleton is made up of numerous plates called sclerites (a hardened body part), separated by thin sutures. This design creates the armoured defenses of the beetle while maintaining flexibility. The elytra are not used for flight, but tend to cover the hind part of the body and protect the second pair of wings.

The elytra must be raised in order to move the hind flight wings. A beetles flight wings are crossed with veins and are folded after landing, often along these veins, and are stored below the elytra. ADVERTISEMENT The photograph below shows the Elytra lifted to expose the hind wings beneath. The Elytra is a hard covering which protects the delicate wings underneath it. In some beetles, the ability to fly has been lost. These include the ground beetles (family Carabidae) and some ‘true weevils’ (family Curculionidae), but also some desert and cave-dwelling species of other families. Many of these species have the two elytra fused together, forming a solid shield over the abdomen. In a few beetle families, both the ability to fly and the elytra have been lost, with the best known example being the glow-worms of the family Phengodidae, in which the females are larviform (where the females in the adult stage of metamorphosis resemble the larvae to various degrees) throughout their lives. Where did the Beetle get its name?

The name ‘Coleoptera’ was first used by Aristotle in the fourth century B.C., more than 5,000 years ago! It comes from the Greek words ‘koleos’ which means sheath (or shield), and ‘ptera’ which means wings. The name refers to the beetles hardened front wings, the ‘elytra’, which covers the folded hind wings like a sheath. Insects in the order ‘Coleoptera’ are commonly called ‘beetles’. The common name ‘beetle’ comes from older English words for a ‘little biter’. Larvae of some species of Coleoptera are called grubs, wireworms and rootworms. Where Do Beetles Live? (Beetle Habitats) Beetles do not really mind where they live – they can live just about anywhere. Beetles can be found in almost all habitats, but are not known to occur in the sea or in the polar regions such as the Arctic and Antarctic. They interact with their ecosystems in several ways. They often feed on plants and fungi, break down animal and plant debris and eat other invertebrates (any animal without a spinal column). Some species prey on various animals including birds and mammals.

Certain species are agricultural pests, such as the Colorado potato beetle, the boll weevil, the red flour beetle and the mungbean or cowpea beetle, while other species of beetles are important controls of agricultural pests. For example, ladybirds consume aphids, scale insects (parasites of plants), thrips (insect species that feed on a large variety of plants and animals by puncturing them and sucking up the contents) and other plant-sucking insects that damage crops. Beetles can be found in many land and freshwater habitats. They live in: logs, under bark, in caves, in fungi, in mud, in decaying plant and animal matter, in water, in stored food, in bird and mammal nests and in termite nests. Some species even live in ant nests and feed of the larvae. Beetles can also be found anywhere particularly where food is especially dried foods like grains, nuts, cereals and flour in such places as warehouses, bakeries and and grain stores. Here is a beetle trying to make his home in a mushroom! Beetles (Order Coleoptera) - Cobb+Co Museum Cobb+Co Museum Skip to section page navigation Enter search term...

Common species There are more kinds of beetles than any other group of animals. Almost a third of all animal species are beetles. In Australia alone, almost 23 000 different species have been named, but there may be as many as 80 000 Australian beetle species. Beetles belong to the Order Coleoptera. Beetles are one of the most easily recognised groups of insects, despite their remarkable diversity of colour and shape. Even young children are able to identify ladybeetles and christmas beetles. Beetles are one of the most successful groups of organisms on the planet, occupying most habitats and taking advantage of many food sources. One of the major factors contributing to the success of beetles is their compact body design and in particular their tough protective front wings. Thousands of Washing Beetles Phyllotocus rufipennis (Scarabaeidae) emerge in summer to feed on eucalypt blossoms but often mistakenly swarm on other white objects, such as drying washing, tennis players or even brides.

Adult Giant Pine Weevils, Eurhamphus fasciculatus (Curculionidae), congregate on the trunks of dying Hoop Pines (Araucaria cunninghamii) in south-east Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales. Their white, legless larvae feed on the inner bark of the same trees. Piedish Beetles, Helea spp. (Tenebrionidae), are inhabitants of arid and semi-arid sand country. Their broad, oval shape, with an upturned edge all the way around, is thought to protect their legs from predators. Larvae of cockchafer beetles like Rhopaea magnicornis (Scarabaeidae) are white curl-grubs that feed on plant roots. Large numbers of these adult beetles emerge from the ground after summer rains and fly backwards and forwards above lawns at dusk. The most distinctive feature of beetles is their wing covers which are also called elytra. These covers are actually the thickened and hardened fore wings. The wing covers have lost their wing venation but often have closely spaced grooves or rows of punctures. Beetles use their more delicate hind wings for flying.

When they are not being used they are folded beneath the wing covers which meet in a straight line down the back. Most beetles have wing covers that cover the whole of their abdomen. Some have shortened wing covers leaving one or often more segments of the abdomen exposed. Most adult beetles are compact with a heavily armoured body. They usually have mouthparts with a strong pair of jaws designed for chewing. Take care if you try to pick up a large longhorned beetle, their powerful jaws can deliver a painful bite. Beetle larvae come in as many varied shapes and sizes as the adults. Sometimes there is no easy way to tell if a particular larva belongs to a beetle. Many are grub-like with a soft body but most have a well-developed, armoured head. Most have three pairs of jointed legs on the thorax, but in some groups like weevils, there are no legs at all. Some beetle larvae look very similar to the caterpillars of moths and butterflies, but they do not have fleshy false legs on the abdomen. The jaws of the Poinciana Longicorn, Agrianome spinicollis (Cerambycidae), are large and sharp.

A stag beetle, Lamprima latreillei (Lucanidae), clearly showing the line down the middle of the back where the wing covers meet. The wing covers of beetles are actually their forewings. They lack wing veins but often have many parallel grooves or rows of punctures like this rare darkling beetle, Axynaon championi (Tenebrionidae), from arid Queensland. Many beetles like this Fiddler Beetle, Eupoecila australasiae (Scarabaeidae), have bright, glossy colours. Some of the most commonly encountered beetle larvae are the white 'curl grubs' of scarab beetles such as this larva of the Rhinocerus beetle, Xylotrupes ulysses. Beetles are found in almost every imaginable habitat on land. Many species have also invaded freshwater. Many beetles feed on living plants as adults or larvae, or both. Some, like leaf beetles, feed on the outside of plants, munching on the leaves or flowers. Other plant feeders are concealed, especially as larvae, boring inside fruit, seeds, stems or wood.

Other beetle species feed on plant matter, but only after it has been broken down by other organisms such as fungi. Numerous groups of beetles are also specialised to feed on the fungi themselves. Other beetles are predators, usually feeding on a range of insects and other small invertebrates. But some are more specialised. For example, some ground beetles have special jaws designed to capture and hold slippery, slimy prey such as snails and earthworms. Beetles can be of great economic importance with many species attacking crops, destroying timber and invading our stored food. Others are beneficial, consuming insect pests or weedy plants. In contrast, beetles are of little importance in transmitting diseases of humans and animals. Beetles undergo abrupt metamorphosis and pass through a larval and pupal stage before transforming into winged adults. Variable Lady Beetle Coelophora inaequalis larva. Variable Lady Beetle Coelophora inaequalis pupae. Like other beetles, the Variable Lady Beetle Coelophora inaequalis (Coccinellidae), passes through larval and pupal stages before emerging as an adult (see three images above).

The adults and larvae of lady beetles are beneficial predators of aphids and other sap-sucking insects. Larva of Twenty Eight Spotted Lady Beetle, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Coccinellidae). Most lady beetles are beneficial predators, but the larvae (top) and adults (above) of the Twenty Eight Spotted Lady Beetle, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Coccinellidae), eat the leaves of tomatoes, potatoes and related plants. The rainforest dwelling Snail-eating Carabid, Pamborus alternans (Carabidae), feeds on snails and earthworms, which it grips with specialised jaws. It can squirt a pungent, burning fluid from the rear when handled. Fireflies, such as Atyphella scintillans, are actually beetles. This species is found in moist forests in south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales. The winged males (3 in foreground) flash lights at the tip of their abdomens to signal wingless females (in background) on the ground.

When handled roughly, the day-flying Long-nosed Lycid Beetle, Porrostoma rhipidium (Lycidae), exudes a toxic milky fluid from the leg joints. The bold colours of these beetles advertise they are distasteful. Many other harmless insects mimic these beetles such as the moth Cyana meyricki (Arctiidae). Cyana meyricki (Arctiidae) 10 Fascinating Facts About Beetles 10 Fascinating Facts About Beetles 10 Fascinating Facts About Beetles Interesting Behaviors and Traits of Beetles One out of every four animals on Earth is a beetle. Getty Images/Carola Vahldiek By Debbie Hadley Updated June 20, 2016. Beetles, the hundreds of thousands of insects belonging to the order Coleoptera , inhabit nearly every ecological niche on the planet. This group includes some of our most beloved bugs, as well as our most reviled pests. Here are 10 fascinating facts about beetles, our largest insect order. 1. One out of every four animals on Earth is a beetle.

Beetles are the largest group of living organisms known to science, bar none. Even with plants included in the count, one in every five known organisms is a beetle. Scientists have described over 350,000 species of beetles, with many more still undiscovered, undoubtedly. By some estimates, there may be as many as 3 million beetle species living on the planet. The order Coleoptera is the largest order in the entire animal kingdom. 2. Beetles live everywhere. You can find beetles almost anywhere on the planet, from pole to pole, according to entomologist Stephen Marshall. They inhabit both terrestrial and freshwater aquatic habitats, from forests to grasslands, deserts to tundras, and from beaches to mountaintops. continue reading below our video What are the Seven Wonders of the World You can even find beetles on some of the world's most remote islands. The British geneticist (and atheist) J. B. S. Haldane is purported to have said that God must have an "inordinate fondness for beetles." Perhaps this accounts for their presence and number in every corner of this globe we call Earth. 3. Most adult beetles wear body armor.

One of the traits that makes beetles so easy to recognize is their hardened forewings, which serve as armor to protect the more delicate flight wings and soft abdomen underneath. Famed philosopher Aristotle coined the order name Coleoptera, which comes from the Greek koleon, meaning sheathed, and ptera, meaning wings. When beetles fly, they hold these protective wing covers (called elytra ) out to the sides, allowing the hindwings to move freely and keep them airborne. 4. Beetles vary dramatically in size, from almost microscopic to downright gigantic! As you would expect from a group of insects so numerous, beetles vary widely in size. The shortest beetles are the featherwing beetles (family Ptiliidae), most of which measure less than 1 millimeter long. Of these, the smallest of all is a species called the fringed ant beetle, Nanosella fungi, which reaches only 0.25 mm in length and weighs just 0.4 milligrams. On the other end of the size spectrum, the Goliath beetle (Goliathus goliathus) tips the scales at 100 grams. The longest known beetle hails from South America.

The appropriately named Titanus giganteus can reach 20 centimeters long. 5. Adult beetles chew their food. That might seem obvious, but not all insects do so. Butterflies , for example, sip liquid nectar from their own built-in straw, called a proboscis. One common trait all adult beetles and most beetle larvae share is mandibulate mouthparts, made just for chewing. Most beetles feed on plants, but some (like ladybugs ) hunt and eat smaller insect prey. Carrion feeders use those strong jaws to gnaw on skin or hides. A few even feed on fungus. Whatever they're dining on, beetles chew their food thoroughly before swallowing. In fact, the common name beetle is thought to derive from the Old English word bitela, meaning little biter. 6. Beetles have a big impact on the economy. Only a tiny fraction of the overall insect population can be considered pests; most insects never cause us any trouble at all. But because so many are phytophagous, the order Coleoptera does include quite a few pests of economic importance.

Bark beetles (like the mountain pine beetle) and wood-borers (such as the exotic emerald ash borer ) kill millions of trees each year. Farmers spend millions on pesticides and other controls for agricultural pests like the western corn rootworm or the Colorado potato beetle . Pests like the Khapra beetle feed on stored grains, causing more economic losses well after the harvest is completed. Just the money spent by gardeners on Japanese beetle pheromone traps (some would say money wasted on pheromone traps ) is greater than the GDP of some small countries! 7. Beetles can be noisy. Many insects are famous for their sounds. Cicadas, crickets, grasshoppers, and katydids all serenade us with songs. Many beetles produce sounds, too, although not nearly as melodic as those of their Orthopteran cousins. Deathwatch beetles bang their heads again the walls of their wood tunnels, making a surprisingly loud knocking sound. Some darkling beetles tap their abdomens on the ground. A good number of beetles stridulate, particularly when handled by humans. Have you ever picked up a June beetle?

Many, like the ten-lined June beetle, will squeal when you do. Both male and female bark beetles chirp, probably as a courtship ritual and a means of finding one another. 8. Some beetles glow in the dark. Species in certain beetle families produce light. Their bioluminescence occurs through a chemical reaction involving an enzyme called luciferase. Fireflies ( family Lampyridae ) flash signals to attract potential mates, with a light organ on the abdomen. In glowworms (family Phengodidae), the light organs run down the sides of the thoracic and abdominal segments, like tiny glowing windows on a railroad boxcar (and thus their nickname, railroad worms). Glowworms also sometimes have an additional light organ on the head, which glows red! Tropical click beetles ( family Elateridae ) also produce light by virtue a pair of oval light organs on the thorax, and a third light organ on the abdomen. 9. Weevils are beetles, too. Weevils, easily recognized by their elongated, almost comical beaks, are really just a type of beetle.

The superfamily Curculionoidea includes the snout beetles and various types of weevils. When you look at a weevil's long snout, you might assume they feed by piercing and sucking their meal, much like the true bugs. But don't be fooled, weevils belong to the order Coleoptera. Just as all other beetles do, weevils have mandibulate mouthparts made for chewing. In the case of the weevil, however, the mouthparts are usually tiny and are found just at the tip of that long beak. Many weevils cause significant damage to their plant hosts , and for this reason, we consider them pests. 10. Beetles have been around for about 270 million years. The first beetle-like organisms in the fossil record date back to the Permian Period , roughly 270 million years ago. True beetles – those that resemble our modern-day beetles – first appeared about 230 million years ago. Beetles were already in existence before the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea, and they survived the K/T extinction event thought to have doomed the dinosaurs.

How have beetles survived for so long, and withstood such extreme events? As a group, beetles have proved remarkably adept at adapting to ecological changes. Sources: Insects - Their Natural History and Diversity, by Stephen A. Marshall Borror and DeLong's Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th edition, by Charles A. Triplehorn and Norman F. Johnson Encyclopedia of Insects, edited by Vincent H. Resh and Ring T. Carde. Beetles (Order Coleoptera) - Queensland Museum Queensland Museum Skip to section page navigation Enter search term... Common species There are more kinds of beetles than any other group of animals. Almost a third of all animal species are beetles. In Australia alone, almost 23 000 different species have been named, but there may be as many as 80 000 Australian beetle species. Beetles belong to the Order Coleoptera. Beetles are one of the most easily recognised groups of insects, despite their remarkable diversity of colour and shape. Even young children are able to identify ladybeetles and christmas beetles.

Beetles are one of the most successful groups of organisms on the planet, occupying most habitats and taking advantage of many food sources. One of the major factors contributing to the success of beetles is their compact body design and in particular their tough protective front wings. Thousands of Washing Beetles Phyllotocus rufipennis (Scarabaeidae) emerge in summer to feed on eucalypt blossoms but often mistakenly swarm on other white objects, such as drying washing, tennis players or even brides. Adult Giant Pine Weevils, Eurhamphus fasciculatus (Curculionidae), congregate on the trunks of dying Hoop Pines (Araucaria cunninghamii) in south-east Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales. Their white, legless larvae feed on the inner bark of the same trees. Piedish Beetles, Helea spp. (Tenebrionidae), are inhabitants of arid and semi-arid sand country. Their broad, oval shape, with an upturned edge all the way around, is thought to protect their legs from predators.

Larvae of cockchafer beetles like Rhopaea magnicornis (Scarabaeidae) are white curl-grubs that feed on plant roots. Large numbers of these adult beetles emerge from the ground after summer rains and fly backwards and forwards above lawns at dusk. The most distinctive feature of beetles is their wing covers which are also called elytra. These covers are actually the thickened and hardened fore wings. The wing covers have lost their wing venation but often have closely spaced grooves or rows of punctures. Beetles use their more delicate hind wings for flying. When they are not being used they are folded beneath the wing covers which meet in a straight line down the back. Most beetles have wing covers that cover the whole of their abdomen. Some have shortened wing covers leaving one or often more segments of the abdomen exposed. Most adult beetles are compact with a heavily armoured body. They usually have mouthparts with a strong pair of jaws designed for chewing. Take care if you try to pick up a large longhorned beetle, their powerful jaws can deliver a painful bite. Beetle larvae come in as many varied shapes and sizes as the adults.

Sometimes there is no easy way to tell if a particular larva belongs to a beetle. Many are grub-like with a soft body but most have a well-developed, armoured head. Most have three pairs of jointed legs on the thorax, but in some groups like weevils, there are no legs at all. Some beetle larvae look very similar to the caterpillars of moths and butterflies, but they do not have fleshy false legs on the abdomen. The jaws of the Poinciana Longicorn, Agrianome spinicollis (Cerambycidae), are large and sharp. A stag beetle, Lamprima latreillei (Lucanidae), clearly showing the line down the middle of the back where the wing covers meet. The wing covers of beetles are actually their forewings. They lack wing veins but often have many parallel grooves or rows of punctures like this rare darkling beetle, Axynaon championi (Tenebrionidae), from arid Queensland. Many beetles like this Fiddler Beetle, Eupoecila australasiae (Scarabaeidae), have bright, glossy colours.

Some of the most commonly encountered beetle larvae are the white 'curl grubs' of scarab beetles such as this larva of the Rhinocerus beetle, Xylotrupes ulysses. Beetles are found in almost every imaginable habitat on land. Many species have also invaded freshwater. Many beetles feed on living plants as adults or larvae, or both. Some, like leaf beetles, feed on the outside of plants, munching on the leaves or flowers. Other plant feeders are concealed, especially as larvae, boring inside fruit, seeds, stems or wood. Other beetle species feed on plant matter, but only after it has been broken down by other organisms such as fungi. Numerous groups of beetles are also specialised to feed on the fungi themselves. Other beetles are predators, usually feeding on a range of insects and other small invertebrates. But some are more specialised. For example, some ground beetles have special jaws designed to capture and hold slippery, slimy prey such as snails and earthworms. Beetles can be of great economic importance with many species attacking crops, destroying timber and invading our stored food. Others are beneficial, consuming insect pests or weedy plants.

In contrast, beetles are of little importance in transmitting diseases of humans and animals. Beetles undergo abrupt metamorphosis and pass through a larval and pupal stage before transforming into winged adults. Variable Lady Beetle Coelophora inaequalis larva. Variable Lady Beetle Coelophora inaequalis pupae. Like other beetles, the Variable Lady Beetle Coelophora inaequalis (Coccinellidae), passes through larval and pupal stages before emerging as an adult (see three images above). The adults and larvae of lady beetles are beneficial predators of aphids and other sap-sucking insects. Larva of Twenty Eight Spotted Lady Beetle, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Coccinellidae). Most lady beetles are beneficial predators, but the larvae (top) and adults (above) of the Twenty Eight Spotted Lady Beetle, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Coccinellidae), eat the leaves of tomatoes, potatoes and related plants.

The rainforest dwelling Snail-eating Carabid, Pamborus alternans (Carabidae), feeds on snails and earthworms, which it grips with specialised jaws. It can squirt a pungent, burning fluid from the rear when handled. Fireflies, such as Atyphella scintillans, are actually beetles. This species is found in moist forests in south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales. The winged males (3 in foreground) flash lights at the tip of their abdomens to signal wingless females (in background) on the ground. When handled roughly, the day-flying Long-nosed Lycid Beetle, Porrostoma rhipidium (Lycidae), exudes a toxic milky fluid from the leg joints. The bold colours of these beetles advertise they are distasteful. Many other harmless insects mimic these beetles such as the moth Cyana meyricki (Arctiidae). Cyana meyricki (Arctiidae)

Question: Which creatures belong to the order Coleoptera?
Answer: Beetles