Beetles Fossil range: Early Permian - Recent
Hylobius abietis, a weevil
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Subclass: Pterygota Infraclass: Neoptera Superorder: Endopterygota Order: Coleoptera Linnaeus, 1758
Suborders
Adephaga Archostemata Myxophaga Polyphaga See subgroups of the order Coleoptera

Beetles are a group of insects which have the largest number of species. Hylobius abietis is a Beetle belonging to the family Curculionidae (the true weevils A weevil is any Beetle from the Curculionoidea Superfamily. They are usually small less than 6  mm (¼  Inch) and herbivorous Arthropods are Animals belonging to the Phylum Arthropoda (from Greek ἄρθρον arthron, " Joint " Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described Pterygota is a subclass of Insects that includes the winged insects Neoptera is a classification group that includes almost all the winged Insects specifically those that can flex their wings over their abdomens The Endopterygota, also known as Holometabola, are Insects of the subclass Pterygota which go through distinctive Larval Pupal Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for The book Systema Naturae was one of the major works of the Swedish doctor of medicine Carolus Linnaeus. Taxonomic rank ( rank, category, taxonomic category is an abstract term used in the Scientific classification, or Taxonomy, of organisms Adephaga (from Greek adephagos, 'gluttonous' with more than 40000 recorded species in 10 families is a suborder of highly specialized Beetles and Archostemata is the smallest Suborder of Beetles consisting of fewer than 50 known species organized into five families Myxophaga is the smallest suborder of Coleoptera, consisting of four families of small to minute Beetles They have Notopleural sutures, although Polyphaga is the largest and most diverse Suborder of Beetles Polyphaga comprises 144 families in 16 superfamilies and displays an enormous variety of specialization This article classifies the subgroups of the order Coleoptera ( Beetles down to the level of families, following the system in Volume 2 of American Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. They are placed in the order Coleoptera, which means "sheathed wing". The Coleoptera contains more described species than in any other order in the animal kingdom, constituting about 25% of all known life-forms. In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. ^[1] Forty percent of all described insect species are beetles (about 350,000 species^[1]), and new species are frequently discovered. Estimates put the total number of species, described and undescribed, at between 5 and 8 million.

Beetles can be found in almost all habitats, but are not known to occur in the sea or in the polar regions. Earth's polar regions are the areas of the globe surrounding the poles also known as frigid zones. They interact with their ecosystems in several ways. An ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of all plants animals and micro-organisms( Biotic factors in an area functioning together with all of the non-living physical ( They often feed on plants and fungi, break down animal and plant debris, and eat other invertebrates. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. A fungus (ˈfʌŋgəs is a eukaryotic Organism that is a member of the kingdom Fungi (ˈfʌndʒaɪ An invertebrate is an Animal lacking a Vertebral column. The group includes 98% of all animal Species — all animals except those in the Chordate Some species are prey of various animals including birds and mammals. Certain species are agricultural pests, such as the Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata, the boll weevil Anthonomus grandis, the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, and the mungbean or cowpea beetle Callosobruchus maculatus, while other species of beetles are important controls of agricultural pests. The Colorado potato beetle ( Leptinotarsa decemlineata, also known as the Colorado beetle, ten-striped spearman, the ten-lined potato beetle The boll weevil ( Anthonomus grandis) is a Beetle measuring an average length of six Millimeters which feeds on Cotton buds and flowers For example, beetles in the family Coccinellidae ("ladybirds" or "ladybugs") consume aphids, scale insects, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects that damage crops. The scale insects are small Insects of the order Hemiptera, generally classified as the Superfamily Coccoidea.

Contents 1 Description 2 Development 3 Physiology and behaviour 3.1 Reproduction 3.2 Defense 3.3 Feeding 3.4 Adaptations to the environment 4 Evolutionary history and classification 5 Impact on humans 5.1 Pests 5.2 Beneficial organisms 5.3 Beetles in ancient Egypt and other cultures 6 Study and collection 7 References 7.1 General references 7.2 Cited references 8 See also 9 External links

Description

The name "Coleoptera" was given by Aristotle for the hardened shield-like forewings (coleo = shield + ptera = wing). Aristotle (Greek Aristotélēs) (384 BC – 322 BC was a Greek philosopher a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. ^[1]

Other characters of this group which are believed to be monophyletic include a holometabolous life cycle; having a prothorax that is distinct from and freely articulating with the mesothorax; the meso- and meta-thoracic segments fusing to form a pterothorax; a depressed body shape with the legs on the ventral surface; the coxae of legs recessed into cavities formed by heavily sclerotized thoracic sclerites; the abdominal sternites more sclerotized than the tergites; antennae with 11 or fewer segments; and terminal genitalic appendages retracted into the abdomen and invisible at rest. The cockchafer (colloquially called may bug, billy witch, or spang beetle, particularly in East Anglia) is a European Beetle A clade is a taxonomic group comprising a single Common ancestor and all the descendants of that ancestor Holometabolism, also called complete metamorphism, is a term applied to insect groups to describe the specific kind of insect development which includes four The prothorax is the foremost of the three segments in the Thorax of an Insect, and bears the first pair of legs ^[1]

The general anatomy of beetles is quite uniform, although specific organs and appendages may vary greatly in appearance and function between the many families in the order. Anatomy (from the Greek anatomia, from ana separate apart from and temnein, to cut up cut open is a branch of Biology that is the consideration An appendage in the broadest sense is an additional or subsidiary part existing on or added to something which can generally still function if the appendage has never existed or Like all insects, beetles' bodies are divided into three sections: the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. When viewed from below, the thorax is that part from which all three pairs of legs and both pairs of wings arise. The abdomen is everything posterior to the thorax. When viewed from above, most beetles appear to have three clear sections, but this is deceptive: on the beetle's upper surface, the middle "section" is a hard plate called the pronotum, which is only the front part of the thorax; the back part of the thorax is concealed by the beetle's wings. The prothorax is the foremost of the three segments in the Thorax of an Insect, and bears the first pair of legs Insect wings are outgrowths of the Insect Exoskeleton that enable insects to fly. Like all arthropods, beetles are segmented organisms, and all three of the major sections of the body are themselves composed of several further segments, although these are not always readily discernible. Segmentation in biology refers to the division of some Metazoan bodies and Plant body plans into a series of semi-repetitive segments and the question of This further segmentation is usually best seen on the abdomen.

Beetles are generally characterised by a particularly hard exoskeleton and hard forewings (elytra). An exoskeleton is an external Skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body in contrast to the internal Endoskeleton of for example a Human. An elytron (plural elytra) is a modified hardened Forewing of certain Insect orders notably Beetles (Coleoptera and true bugs ( Hemiptera The beetle's exoskeleton is made up of numerous plates called sclerites, separated by thin sutures. A sclerite ( Greek skleros meaning " hard " is a hardened body part This design creates the armoured defences 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 (alae). Insects are the only group of Invertebrates known to have evolved flight Insect wings are outgrowths of the Insect Exoskeleton that enable insects to fly. The elytra must be raised in order to move the hind flight wings. A beetle's flight wings are crossed with veins and are folded after landing, often along these veins, and are stored below the elytra.

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. Ground beetles or carabids are collective terms for the Beetle family Carabidae. Curculionidae is the family of the "true" Weevils (or Snout beetles. Many of these species have the two elytra fused together, forming a solid shield over the abdomen. In a few 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 throughout their lives. Glowworm (or glow-worm) is the common name for various different groups of insect Larva and adult Larviform females which glow through The Beetle family Phengodidae is known also as glowworm beetles, whose Larvae are known as Glowworms. Larviform female is biological phenomenon occurring in some species where the females in the adult stage of metamorphosis resemble the larvae to various degrees

Beetles have mouthparts similar to those of grasshoppers. The mouthparts of Arthropods have evolved into a number of forms each adapted to a different style or mode of feeding Grasshoppers are Insects of the suborder Caelifera in the order Orthoptera. Of these parts, the most commonly known are probably the mandibles, which appear as large pincers on the front of some beetles. Insect mandibles are a pair of appendages near the insect’s mouth and the most anterior of the three pairs of oral appendages (the Labrum is more anterior but The mandibles are a pair of hard, often tooth-like structures that move horizontally to grasp, crush, or cut food or enemies (see defence, below). Two pairs of finger-like appendages are found around the mouth in most beetles, serving to move food into the mouth. An appendage in the broadest sense is an additional or subsidiary part existing on or added to something which can generally still function if the appendage has never existed or These are the maxillary and labial palpi.

The eyes are compound and may display remarkable adaptability, as in the case of whirligig beetles (family Gyrinidae), in which the eyes are split to allow a view both above and below the waterline. The whirligig beetles are a family ( Gyrinidae) of Water beetles that normally live on the surface of the water Other species also have divided eyes — some longhorn beetles (family Cerambycidae) and weevils — while many beetles have eyes that are notched to some degree. The longhorn beetles ( Cerambycidae; also known as long-horned beetles or more archaically longicorns) are a cosmopolitan family of Beetles A few beetle genera also possess ocelli, which are small, simple eyes usually situated farther back on the head (on the vertex). An ocellus (plural ocelli) is a type of Photoreceptor organ in animals In Arthropod and Vertebrate Anatomy, the vertex (or cranial vertex) refers to the upper surface of the head

Beetles' antennae are primarily organs of smell, but may also be used to feel out a beetle's environment physically. Antennae (singular antenna) are paired Appendages connected to the front-most segments of Arthropods In Crustaceans they are They may also be used in some families during mating, or among a few beetles for defence. Antennae vary greatly in form within the Coleoptera, but are often similar within any given family. In some cases, males and females of the same species will have different antennal forms. Antennae may be clavate (flabellate and lamellate are sub-forms of clavate, or clubbed antennae), filiform, geniculate, moniliform, pectinate, or serrate. For images of these antennal forms see antenna (biology). Antennae (singular antenna) are paired Appendages connected to the front-most segments of Arthropods In Crustaceans they are

The legs, which are multi-segmented, end in two to five small segments called tarsi. The arthropod leg is a form of jointed Appendage of Arthropods usually used for Walking. Like many other insect orders beetles bear claws, usually one pair, on the end of the last tarsal segment of each leg. While most beetles use their legs for walking, legs may be variously modified and adapted for other uses. Among aquatic families — Dytiscidae, Haliplidae, many species of Hydrophilidae and others — the legs, most notably the last pair, are modified for swimming and often bear rows of long hairs to aid this purpose. Dytiscidae &ndash based on the Greek dytikos (δυτικός "able to dive" &ndash are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of The haliplidae are a family of Water beetles who swim poorly using an alternate motion of the legs and therefore prefer to get around by crawling Hydrophilidae is a family of chiefly aquatic Beetles One subfamily Sphaeridinae, is terrestrial. Other beetles have fossorial legs that are widened and often spined for digging. A fossorial is an Organism adapted to digging and life underground such as the Badger, the Naked mole rat, and the mole salamanders Ambystomatidae Species with such adaptations are found among the scarabs, ground beetles, and clown beetles (family Histeridae). Histeridae is a family of Beetles commonly known as clown beetles or hister beetles. The hind legs of some beetles, such as flea beetles (within Chrysomelidae) and flea weevils (within Curculionidae), are enlarged and designed for jumping. Flea beetles is a general name applied to the small jumping Beetles of the Leaf beetle family (Chrysomelidae

Oxygen is obtained via a tracheal system. Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Many terrestrial Arthropods have evolved a closed Respiratory system composed of Spiracles, tracheae and Tracheoles to transport metabolic Air enters a series of tubes along the body through openings called spiracles, and is then taken into increasingly finer fibres. Spiracles are small openings on the surface of some Animals that usually lead to Respiratory systems In Elasmobranchs ( Sharks and Pumping movements of the body force the air through the system.

Beetles have hemolymph instead of blood, and the open circulatory system of the beetle is powered by a tube-like heart attached to the top inside of the thorax. Hemolymph or haemolymph is the Blood analogue used by all Arthropods and most Mollusks that have an Open circulatory system. Blood is a specialized Bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the body's cells ��such as nutrients and oxygen—and transports Waste products This is an article about the rock music band "Circulatory System"

Development

Beetles are endopterygotes with complete metamorphosis. The cockchafer (colloquially called may bug, billy witch, or spang beetle, particularly in East Anglia) is a European Beetle The Endopterygota, also known as Holometabola, are Insects of the subclass Pterygota which go through distinctive Larval Pupal Metamorphosis is a Biological process by which an Animal physically develops after Birth or hatching involving a conspicuous and relatively

A single female may lay from several dozen to several thousand eggs during her lifetime. Eggs are usually laid according to the substrate the larva will feed on upon hatching. A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example Among others, they can be laid loose in the substrate (e. g. flour beetle), laid in clumps on leaves (e. g. Colorado potato beetle), or individually attached (e. The Colorado potato beetle ( Leptinotarsa decemlineata, also known as the Colorado beetle, ten-striped spearman, the ten-lined potato beetle g. mungbean beetle and other seed borers) or buried in the medium (e. g. carrot weevil).

The larva is usually the principal feeding stage of the beetle life cycle. A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example A life cycle is a period involving 1 Generation of an Organism through means of Reproduction, whether through Asexual reproduction or Sexual Larvae tend to feed voraciously once they emerge from their eggs. Some feed externally on plants, such as those of certain leaf beetles, while others feed within their food sources. Examples of internal feeders are most Buprestidae and longhorn beetles. Buprestidae is a family of Beetles known as jewel beetles or metallic wood-boring beetles because of their glossy Iridescent The larvae of many beetle families are predatory like the adults (ground beetles, ladybirds, rove beetles). The larval period varies between species but can be as long as several years.

Beetle larvae can be differentiated from other insect larvae by their hardened, often darkened head, the presence of chewing mouthparts, and spiracles along the sides of the body. Spiracles are small openings on the surface of some Animals that usually lead to Respiratory systems In Elasmobranchs ( Sharks and Like adult beetles, the larvae are varied in appearance, particularly between beetle families. Beetles whose larvae are somewhat flattened and are highly mobile are the ground beetles, some rove beetles, and others; their larvae are described as campodeiform. Some beetle larvae resemble hardened worms with dark head capsules and minute legs. These are elateriform larvae, and are found in the click beetle (Elateridae) and darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae) families. The family Elateridae is commony called click beetles (or "typical click beetles" to distinguish them form the related Cerophytidae and Darkling beetles (also known as Darkening beetles) are a family of Beetles found worldwide estimated at more than 20000 species. Some elateriform larvae of click beetles are known as wireworms. The family Elateridae is commony called click beetles (or "typical click beetles" to distinguish them form the related Cerophytidae and Beetles in the families of the Scarabaeoidea have short, thick larvae described as scarabaeiform, but more commonly known as grubs. Scarabaeoidea is a Superfamily of Beetles the only subgroup of the Infraorder Scarabaeiformia.

All beetle larvae go through several instars, which are the developmental stages between each moult. An instar is a developmental stage of Arthropods, such as Insects, between each moult ( ecdysis) until sexual maturity is reached Ecdysis is the Molting of the Cuticula in Arthropods and related groups ( Ecdysozoa) In many species the larvae simply increase in size with each successive instar as more food is consumed. In some cases, however, more dramatic changes occur. Among certain beetle families or genera, particularly those that exhibit parasitic lifestyles, the first instar (the planidium) is highly mobile in order to search out a host, while the following instars are more sedentary and remain on or within their host. A planidium is a specialized type of first- Instar Insect Larva, seen in groups that are Parasitoids; they are generally flattened highly This is known as hypermetamorphosis; examples include the blister beetles (family Meloidae) and some rove beetles, particularly those of the genus Aleochara. Hypermetamorphosis is a kind of complete metamorphosis in which the different Larval Instars represent two or more different forms of larva Beetles (Coleoptera in the family Meloidae are commonly known as blister beetles Rove beetles of the genus Aleochara are among the only insect parasites in the Beetle family Staphylinidae

As with all endopterygotes, beetle larvae pupate, and from this pupa emerges a fully formed, sexually mature adult beetle, or imago. A pupa ( Latin pupa for doll pl pupae or pupas) is the life stage of some Insects undergoing transformation In Biology, the imago is the last stage of development of an Insect, after the last Ecdysis of an incomplete metamorphosis, or after emergence Adults have an extremely variable lifespan, from weeks to years, depending on the species.

Physiology and behaviour

Reproduction

Beetles may display extremely intricate behaviour when mating. Smell is thought to be important in the location of a mate.

Conflict can play a part in the mating rituals of species such as burying beetles (genus Nicrophorus) where conflicts between males and females rage until only one of each is left, thus ensuring reproduction by the strongest and fittest. Burying beetles or sexton beetles ( Genus Nicrophorus) are the best-known members of the family Silphidae ( Carrion beetles. Many male beetles are territorial and will fiercely defend their small patch of territory from intruding males. In such species, the males may often have horns on the head and/or thorax, making their overall body lengths greater than those of the females, unlike most insects.

Pairing is generally short but in some cases will last for several hours. During pairing sperm cells are transferred to the female to fertilise the egg. A spermatozoon or spermatozoan ( pl spermatozoa) from the Ancient Greek σπέρμα (seed and ζῷον (living being and more commonly known For soil improvement see Fertilization (soil.

Parental care varies between species, ranging from the simple laying of eggs under a leaf to certain scarab beetles, which construct underground structures complete with a supply of dung to house and feed their young. The family Scarabaeidae as presently defined consists of over 30000 species of Beetles worldwide Other beetles are leaf rollers, biting sections of leaves to cause them to curl inwards, then laying their eggs, thus protected, inside.

Defense

Beetles and their larvae have a variety of strategies to avoid being attacked by predators or parasitoids. Bombardier Beetles are Ground beetles ( Carabidae) in the tribes Brachinini, Paussini, Ozaenini, or Metriini —more A parasitoid is an organism that spends a significant portion of its life history attached to or within a single host Organism which it ultimately kills These include camouflage, mimicry, toxicity, and active defence. Camouflage is a method of cryptic or concealing coloration that allows an otherwise visible Organism Biological mimicry occurs when a group of organisms the mimics, have

Camouflage involves the use of colouration or shape to blend into the surrounding environment. This sort of protective coloration is common and widespread among beetle families, especially those that feed on wood or vegetation, such as many of the leaf beetles (family Chrysomelidae) or weevils. Beetles in the family Chrysomelidae are commonly known as leaf beetles. A weevil is any Beetle from the Curculionoidea Superfamily. They are usually small less than 6  mm (¼  Inch) and herbivorous In some of these species, sculpturing or various coloured scales or hairs cause the beetle to resemble bird dung or other inedible objects. Many of those that live in sandy environments blend in with the coloration of the substrate.

Another defence that often uses colour or shape to deceive potential enemies is mimicry. A number of longhorn beetles (family Cerambycidae) bear a striking resemblance to wasps, which helps them avoid predation even though the beetles are in fact harmless. The longhorn beetles ( Cerambycidae; also known as long-horned beetles or more archaically longicorns) are a cosmopolitan family of Beetles A wasp is any Insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a Bee nor Ant. This defence can be found to a lesser extent in other beetle families, such as the scarab beetles. Beetles may combine their colour mimicry with behavioural mimicry, acting like the wasps they already closely resemble. Many beetle species, including ladybirds, blister beetles, and lycid beetles can secrete distasteful or toxic substances to make them unpalatable or even poisonous. Beetles (Coleoptera in the family Meloidae are commonly known as blister beetles Lycidae is a family in the Beetle order Coleoptera members of which are commonly called net-winged beetles. These same species often exhibit aposematism, where bright or contrasting colour patterns warn away potential predators, and there are, not surprisingly, a great many beetles and other insects that mimic these chemically-protected species. Biological mimicry occurs when a group of organisms the mimics, have

Large ground beetles and longhorn beetles may defend themselves using strong mandibles and/or spines or horns to forcibly persuade a predator to seek out easier prey. Ground beetles or carabids are collective terms for the Beetle family Carabidae. Insect mandibles are a pair of appendages near the insect’s mouth and the most anterior of the three pairs of oral appendages (the Labrum is more anterior but Others, such as bombardier beetles (within Carabidae), may spray chemicals from their abdomen to repel predators. Bombardier Beetles are Ground beetles ( Carabidae) in the tribes Brachinini, Paussini, Ozaenini, or Metriini —more

Feeding

Besides being abundant and varied, the Coleoptera are able to exploit the wide diversity of food sources available in their many habitats. Some are generalists, eating both plants and animals. Other beetles are highly specialised in their diet. Many species of leaf beetles, longhorn beetles, and weevils are very host specific, feeding on only a single species of plant. Ground beetles and rove beetles (family Staphylinidae), among others, are primarily carnivorous and will catch and consume many other arthropods and small prey such as earthworms and snails. Ground beetles or carabids are collective terms for the Beetle family Carabidae. The rove beetles are a large family ( Staphylinidae) of Beetles primarily distinguished by their short Elytra that leave more than half of their Arthropods are Animals belonging to the Phylum Arthropoda (from Greek ἄρθρον arthron, " Joint " While most predatory beetles are generalists, a few species have more specific prey requirements or preferences.

Decaying organic matter is a primary diet for many species. This can range from dung, which is consumed by coprophagous species such as certain scarab beetles (family Scarabaeidae), to dead animals, which are eaten by necrophagous species such as the carrion beetles (family Silphidae). Coprophagia is the consumption of Feces, from the Greek copros (feces and phagein (eat Dung beetles are beetles which feed partly or exclusively on Feces. Silphidae is a family of Beetles commonly known as (black carrion beetles or burying beetles, comprising about 200 Species. Some of the beetles found within dung and carrion are in fact predatory, such as the clown beetles, preying on the larvae of coprophagous and necrophagous insects. Histeridae is a family of Beetles commonly known as clown beetles or hister beetles.

Adaptations to the environment

Aquatic beetles use several techniques for retaining air beneath the water's surface. Beetles of the family Dytiscidae hold air between the abdomen and the elytra when diving. Hydrophilidae have hairs on their under surface that retain a layer of air against their bodies. Adult crawling water beetles use both their elytra and their hind coxae (the basal segment of the back legs) in air retention ^[2] while whirligig beetles simply carry an air bubble down with them whenever they dive. The whirligig beetles are a family ( Gyrinidae) of Water beetles that normally live on the surface of the water

Evolutionary history and classification

While some authorities believe modern beetles began about 140 million years ago, research announced in 2007 showed that beetles may have entered the fossil record during the Lower Permian, about 265 to 300 million years ago. Sphaerius is a Genus of Beetle, comprising 23 species which are the only members of the family Sphaeriusidae. Myxophaga is the smallest suborder of Coleoptera, consisting of four families of small to minute Beetles They have Notopleural sutures, although FOSSIL is a standard protocol for allowing serial communication for Telecommunications programs under the DOS Operating system. The Permian is a geologic period and system that extends from 299 ^[3]

The four extant suborders of beetle are these:

• Polyphaga is the largest suborder, containing more than 300,000 described species in more than 170 families, including rove beetles (Staphylinidae), scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae), blister beetles (Meloidae), stag beetles (Lucanidae) and true weevils (Curculionidae). Polyphaga is the largest and most diverse Suborder of Beetles Polyphaga comprises 144 families in 16 superfamilies and displays an enormous variety of specialization The rove beetles are a large family ( Staphylinidae) of Beetles primarily distinguished by their short Elytra that leave more than half of their The family Scarabaeidae as presently defined consists of over 30000 species of Beetles worldwide Beetles (Coleoptera in the family Meloidae are commonly known as blister beetles Stag beetles are a group of about 1200 species of Beetle in the family Lucanidae, presently classified in four subfamilies Some species grow to 8  Curculionidae is the family of the "true" Weevils (or Snout beetles. These beetles can be identified by the cervical sclerites (hardened parts of the head used as points of attachment for muscles) absent in the other suborders. A sclerite ( Greek skleros meaning " hard " is a hardened body part
• Adephaga contains about 10 families of largely predatory beetles, includes ground beetles (Carabidae), Dytiscidae and whirligig beetles (Gyrinidae). Adephaga (from Greek adephagos, 'gluttonous' with more than 40000 recorded species in 10 families is a suborder of highly specialized Beetles and Ground beetles or carabids are collective terms for the Beetle family Carabidae. Dytiscidae &ndash based on the Greek dytikos (δυτικός "able to dive" &ndash are the predaceous diving beetles, a family of The whirligig beetles are a family ( Gyrinidae) of Water beetles that normally live on the surface of the water In these beetles the testes are tubular and the first abdominal sternum (a plate of the exoskeleton) is divided by the hind coxae (the basal joints of the beetle's legs). The testicle (from Latin testiculus, diminutive of testis, meaning "witness" virility plural testes) is the male An exoskeleton is an external Skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body in contrast to the internal Endoskeleton of for example a Human.
• Archostemata contains four families of mainly wood-eating beetles, including reticulated beetles (Cupedidae) and the telephone-pole beetle. Archostemata is the smallest Suborder of Beetles consisting of fewer than 50 known species organized into five families Cupedidae is a small family of Beetles notable for the square pattern of "windows" on their Elytra, which gives the family their common name of The telephone-pole beetle, Micromalthus debilis, is a Beetle native to the eastern United States, and the only species in the family
• Myxophaga contains about 100 described species in four families, mostly very small, including Hydroscaphidae and the genus Sphaerius. Myxophaga is the smallest suborder of Coleoptera, consisting of four families of small to minute Beetles They have Notopleural sutures, although Hydroscaphidae is a small family of Water beetles consisting of 13 species in three genera which are sometimes called skiff beetles. Sphaerius is a Genus of Beetle, comprising 23 species which are the only members of the family Sphaeriusidae.

These suborders diverged in the Permian and Triassic. The Triassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about 251 to 199 Ma (million years ago Their phylogenetic relationship is uncertain, with the most popular hypothesis being that Polyphaga and Myxophaga are most closely related, with Adephaga as the sister group to those two, and Archostemata as sister to the other three collectively. Cladistics is the hierarchical classification of Species based on evolutionary ancestry

There are about 350,000 species of beetles. Such a large number of species poses special problems for classification, with some families consisting of thousands of species and needing further division into subfamilies and tribes. Linnaean taxonomy is a method of classifying living things originally devised by (and named for Carolus Linnaeus, although it has changed considerably since his time

Impact on humans

Pests

Many agricultural, forestry, and household insect pests are beetles. The Colorado potato beetle ( Leptinotarsa decemlineata, also known as the Colorado beetle, ten-striped spearman, the ten-lined potato beetle These include the following:

• The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, is a notorious pest of potato plants. The Colorado potato beetle ( Leptinotarsa decemlineata, also known as the Colorado beetle, ten-striped spearman, the ten-lined potato beetle The potato is a Starchy Tuberous crop Vegetable from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae Crops are destroyed and the beetle can only be treated by employing expensive pesticides, many of which it has begun to develop resistance to. A pesticide is a substance or mixture of substances used to kill a pest. Pesticide resistance is the Adaptation of pest species targeted by a Pesticide resulting in decreased susceptibility to that chemical As well as potatoes, suitable hosts can be a number of plants from the potato family (Solanaceae), such as nightshade, tomato, aubergine and capsicum. The Solanaceae is a family of Flowering plants that contains a number of important agricultural plants as well as many toxic plants The Solanaceae is a family of Flowering plants that contains a number of important agricultural plants as well as many toxic plants The tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum, syn Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is a herbaceous usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family The eggplant, aubergine, or brinjal ( Solanum melongena) is a plant of the family Solanaceae (also known as the nightshades Capsicum is a Genus of Plants from the nightshade family ( Solanaceae) native to the Americas, where it was cultivated for thousands
• The boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis, has cost cotton producers in the United States billions of dollars since it first entered that country. The boll weevil ( Anthonomus grandis) is a Beetle measuring an average length of six Millimeters which feeds on Cotton buds and flowers The United States of America —commonly referred to as the
• The bark beetles Hylurgopinus rufipes and Scolytus multistriatus, the elm leaf beetle, Pyrrhalta luteola, and other beetles attack elm trees. A bark beetle is one of approximately 220 Genera with 6000 Species of Beetles in the Subfamily Scolytinae. Elms are Deciduous and Semi-deciduous Trees comprising the genus Ulmus, family Ulmaceae, found The bark beetles are important elm pests because they carry Dutch elm disease as they move from infected breeding sites to feed on healthy elm trees. Dutch elm disease (DED is a fungal disease of Elm trees which is spread by the Elm bark beetle. The spread of the fungus by the beetle has led to the devastation of elm trees in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere, notably in Europe and North America. Northern Hemisphere is the half of a Planet that is North of the Equator —the word hemisphere literally means 'half ball'
• The death watch beetle, Xestobium rufovillosum, (family Anobiidae) is of considerable importance as a pest of older wooden buildings in Great Britain. The death watch beetle ( Xestobium rufovillosum) is a Woodboring beetle, namely a Beetle whose larvae are Xylophagous Anobiidae is a family of Beetles The Larvae of a number of species bore into wood earning the name " Woodworm " or " Wood See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands It attacks hardwoods such as oak and chestnut, always where some fungal decay has taken or is taking place. The term hardwood is used to describe Wood from broad-leaved angiosperm Trees mostly Deciduous, but not necessarily in the case of tropical The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of about 400 species of Trees and Shrubs in the Genus Quercus (from Latin Chestnut ( Castanea) (including some chinkapin or Chinquapin) is a Genus of eight or nine Species of Deciduous It is thought that the actual introduction of the pest into buildings takes place at the time of construction.
• Asian long-horned beetle
• Citrus long-horned beetle
• Western corn rootworm
• Coconut hispine beetle, Brontispa longissima, feeds on young leaves and damages seedlings and mature coconut palms. The Asian longhorned beetle ( Anoplophora glabripennis) (ALB sometimes called Starry Sky (Sky Oxen in China beetle is native to China and other areas The Citrus Long-horned beetle ( Anoplophora chinensis) is a Long-horned beetle native to China and Korea, where it is considered a serious pest The Western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte is one of the most devastating Corn rootworm species in North America, especially The Coconut Palm ( Cocos nucifera) is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family Brontispa longissima (known as the Coconut leaf beetle, the Two-coloured coconut leaf beetle, or the Coconut hispine beetle) is a Leaf beetle In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. A seedling is a young plant Sporophyte developing out of a plant embryo from a Seed. The Coconut Palm ( Cocos nucifera) is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family Paralemmin, also known as PALM, is a human Gene. This gene encodes a member of the paralemmin Protein family On September 27, 2007, Philippines' Metro Manila and 26 provinces were quarantined due to having been infested with this pest (to save the $800-million Philippine coconut industry). Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP Metropolitan Manila ( Filipino: Kalakhang Maynila, Kamaynilaan) or the National Capital Region (NCR ( Filipino: Pambansang A province is a territorial unit almost always an Administrative division. For other uses see Quarantine (disambiguation Quarantine is voluntary or compulsory isolation typically to contain the spread of something The Coconut Palm ( Cocos nucifera) is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family For other uses of this term see Industry (disambiguation An industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent industrious" ^[4]
• The Mountain Pine Beetle normally attacks mature or weakened Lodgepole Pine. The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae, is a species of Bark beetle native to the forests of western North America from Mexico to Lodgepole Pine ( Pinus contorta) is a common Tree in western North America. Under the right circumstances outbreaks make it the most destructive insect pest of mature pine forests. The current infestation in British Columbia is the largest Canada has ever seen. ^[5]

Beneficial organisms

• Both the larvae and adults of some ladybirds (family Coccinellidae) are found in aphid colonies. Coccinella septempunctata, the seven-spot ladybird (or in North America, seven-spotted ladybug or "C-7") is the most common Other lady beetles feed on scale insects and mealybugs. The scale insects are small Insects of the order Hemiptera, generally classified as the Superfamily Coccoidea. Mealybug is the common name of insects in Pseudococcidae, a family of unarmored Scale insects found in moist warm climates If normal food sources are scarce they may feed on other things, such as small caterpillars, young plant bugs, honeydew and nectar. Nectar is a Sugar -rich liquid produced by plants It is produced either by the Flowers in which it attracts pollinating animals or by extrafloral
• Ground beetles (family Carabidae) are common predators of many different insects and other arthropods, including fly eggs, caterpillars, wireworms and others. Ground beetles or carabids are collective terms for the Beetle family Carabidae. Caterpillars are the Larval form of a member of the order Lepidoptera (the Insect order comprising butterflies and Moths
• Plant-feeding beetles are often important beneficial insects, controlling problem weeds. Some flea beetles of the genus Aphthona feed on leafy spurge, a considerable weed of rangeland in western North America. Euphorbia esula aka The Green Spurge ( Leafy Spurge) is a species of spurge native to central and southern Europe (north to England

Some farmers develop beetle banks to foster and provide cover for beneficial beetles. In Agriculture, a beetle bank is a strip of grass or Perennial plants in a field that provide habitat which fosters and provides cover for

Beetles of the Dermestidae family are often used in taxidermy to clean bones of remaining flesh. Dermestidae are a family of Coleoptera that are commonly referred to as skin beetles Taxidermy ( Greek for "skin arrangement" is the art of mounting or reproducing Animals for display (e

Beetles in ancient Egypt and other cultures

Several species of dung beetle, most notably Scarabaeus sacer (often referred to as "scarab"), enjoyed a sacred status among the ancient Egyptians, as the creatures were likened to the major god Khepri. Dung beetles are beetles which feed partly or exclusively on Feces. Dung beetles are beetles which feed partly or exclusively on Feces. Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now This article is about the Egyptian god For the type of robot see Khepera mobile robot. Some scholars suggest that the Egyptians' practice of making mummies was inspired by the brooding process of the beetle. A mummy is a Corpse whose Skin and Flesh have been preserved by either intentional or Incidental exposure to Chemicals extreme Many thousands of amulets and stamp seals have been excavated that depict the scarab. In many artifacts, the scarab is depicted pushing the sun along its course in the sky, much as scarabs push or roll balls of dung to their brood sites. During and following the New Kingdom, scarab amulets were often placed over the heart of the mummified deceased. The New Kingdom, sometimes referred to as the Egyptian Empire, is the period in Ancient Egyptian history between the 16th century BC and

Some tribal groups, particularly in tropical parts of the world, use the colourful, iridescent elytra of certain beetles, especially certain Scarabaeidae, in ceremonies and as adornment. An elytron (plural elytra) is a modified hardened Forewing of certain Insect orders notably Beetles (Coleoptera and true bugs ( Hemiptera

Study and collection

The study of beetles is called coleopterology, and its practitioners are coleopterists. The Melbourne Museum is located in the Carlton Gardens in Melbourne, Australia. Beetles are the group of Insects with the largest number of known Species. Notable students of Coleopterology ( Beetles include the following Coleopterists have formed organisations to facilitate the study of beetles. Among these is The Coleopterists Society, an international organisation based in the United States. International Organization is a peer-reviewed Academic journal that covers the entire field of International affairs. Such organisations may have both professionals and amateurs interested in beetles as members.

Research in this field is often published in peer-reviewed journals specific to the field of coleopterology, though journals dealing with general entomology also publish many papers on various aspects of beetle biology. For a broader class of publications which include scientific journals see Academic journal. Some of the journals specific to beetle research are:

• The Coleopterist (United Kingdom beetle fauna)
• The Coleopterists Bulletin (published by The Coleopterists Society)

There is a thriving industry in the collection of beetle specimens for amateur and professional collectors. The Coleopterist is a UK -based Journal for specialists in Coleopterology (the study of Beetles. Many coleopterists prefer to collect beetle specimens for themselves, recording detailed information about each specimen and its habitat. Such collections add to the body of knowledge about the Coleoptera. Some countries have established laws governing or prohibiting the collection of certain rare (and often much sought after) species. One such beetle whose collection is illegal or restricted is the American burying beetle, Nicrophorus americanus. Nicrophorus americanus, the American burying beetle or giant carrion beetle, is a critically endangered species of Beetle endemic

References

General references

• Poul Beckmann, Living Jewels: The Natural Design of Beetles ISBN 3-7913-2528-0
• Arthur V. Evans, Charles Bellamy, and Lisa Charles Watson, An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles ISBN 0-520-22323-3
• Entomological Society of America, Beetle Larvae of the World ISBN 0-643-05506-1
• David Grimaldi, Michael S. Engel, Evolution of the Insects ISBN 0-521-82149-5
• Ross H. Arnett, Jr. and Michael C. Thomas, American Beetles (CRC Press, 2001-2). The Entomological Society of America (ESA was founded in 1889 and today has more than 6000 members including Educators extension personnel consultants students David A Grimaldi (born September 22, 1957) is an entomologist and Curator of Invertebrate Zoology at the American Museum of Natural History in Michael S Engel (born 24 September 1971 in Creve Coeur Missouri) is a Paleontologist and Entomologist. Ross Harold Arnett Jr ( April 13, 1919 - July 16, 1999) was an American Entomologist noted for his studies of Beetles Michael C Thomas (born 1948 is an American entomologist who is co-author of the book series American Beetles. American Beetles is the single most comprehensive description of the Beetles of North America ISBN 0-8493-1925-0
• K. W. Harde, A Field Guide in Colour to Beetles ISBN 0-7064-1937-5 Pages 7-24
• White, R. E. 1983. Beetles. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, NY. ISBN 0-395-91089-7

Cited references

See also

• Heteroptera - insect suborder that is superficially similar to beetles

External links

• - Coleoptera All what do you need to know about coleoptera, collecting and preparation
• The Beetle Ring - A group of websites about beetles (Coleoptera). Heteroptera is a group of about 40000 species of insects in the Hemiptera.
• List of major Beetle collections - worldwide
• Entomology - online insect museum, entomology, tips and tricks, how to spread and pin insects, etc.
• http://www.koleopterologie.de/gallery - Gallery of Central European beetles
• Coleoptera from the Tree of Life, also Beetles Movies
• Australian borers species
• Beetles and coleopterologists Russian site with English version, with information about biology, systematics and paleontology of beetles
• Illustrations from book by G.G. Yakobson "Beetles of Russia"
• North American Beetles from BugGuide
• Bibliography on fossil insects
• Coleoptera Families of the World
• A digital collection of Southeast Asian beetles

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