Let’s start with the basics

Let’s start with the basics

Let’s start with the basics

Let’s start with the basics

Click parts of the beetle

Click parts of the beetle

Click parts of the beetle

Click parts of the beetle

Click
me
full beetle wings legs horns head thorax

THE WINGS

They have two pairs of wings. One pair is the hard-shelled outer wings. These are not used for flying, but to protect the beetle’s flying set of wings and its body as it crawls through narrow passages and tunnels in a tree.

THE HEAD

Head of a beetle is at the front of the body and is the location of the brain. It's also where the eyes are located. Beetles see in patterns of light and dark dots. Much like the resolution of an image on our computer, the number and size of the dots (or ommatidia) affect how well the beetle can see. In some ways, seeing through the beetles eyes would be like looking through a kaleidoscope.

THE THORAX

Middle part of the beetle that serves as an attachment point for the legs and wings. This is where the heart is located, as well as the muscles, which help the beetle walk, jump and fly.

THE LEGS

Beetles have six jointed legs and the last segment of the leg bears a small claw. While most beetles use their legs for walking, legs may be variously modified and adapted for other uses like swimming, digging and jumping.

THE HORNS

Beetle horns can be impressive weapons. Beetles use their horns to grab other beetles, lift them in the air, and even throw them off trees. They can grow horns in several places. Some horns are located on the front of a beetle’s face. Others grow from the back of the head. And still others grow from the thorax, which is between the beetle’s “shoulder blades.”

4 0 0 0 0 0

named species.

Of all known species on the planet, beetles add up to about

25%

Some estimates of the total number of living beetle species are in the

Millions

They are the most diverse group of complex organisms

on Earth

The Big
Bloom

beetle one
beetle two
beetle three
beetle four
beetle five
beetle six

The Big Bloom

About 125 million years ago flowering plants took over the world and with them the beetle diversification happened, all thanks to the relationship they formed with this new food source.

Beetles roll with
the changes

The persistance of beetles can be ascribed to their wide range of dietary habits, ability to find suitable habitats when necassary, and adaptability.

They are true
survivors

During the past 300 million years, there have been 214 families of beetles, but only 35 of those have completetely died out.

ESSENTIAL
LEARNING