83-854: The family Scarabaeidae , as currently defined, consists of over 35,000 species of beetles worldwide; they are often called scarabs or scarab beetles . The classification of this family has undergone significant change. Several groups formerly treated as subfamilies have been elevated to family rank (e.g., Bolboceratidae , Geotrupidae , Glaresidae , Glaphyridae , Hybosoridae , Ochodaeidae , and Pleocomidae ), and some reduced to lower ranks. The subfamilies listed in this article are in accordance with those in Catalog of Life (2023). Scarabs are stout-bodied beetles, many with bright metallic colours, measuring between 1.5 and 160 millimetres (0.059 and 6.3 in). They have distinctive, clubbed antennae composed of plates called lamellae that can be compressed into
166-421: A "surprisingly narrow range" spanning all four estimates from a minimum of 0.9 to a maximum of 2.1 million beetle species. The four estimates made use of host-specificity relationships (1.5 to 1.9 million), ratios with other taxa (0.9 to 1.2 million), plant:beetle ratios (1.2 to 1.3), and extrapolations based on body size by year of description (1.7 to 2.1 million). This immense diversity led
249-458: A ball or fanned out like leaves to sense odours. Many species are fossorial , with legs adapted for digging. In some groups males (and sometimes females) have prominent horns on the head and/or pronotum to fight over mates or resources. The largest fossil scarabaeid was Oryctoantiquus borealis with a length of 50 millimetres (2.0 in). The C-shaped larvae , called grubs, are pale yellow or white. Most adult beetles are nocturnal, although
332-448: A beetle is quite uniform, although specific organs and appendages vary greatly in appearance and function between the many families in the order. Like all insects, beetles' bodies are divided into three sections: the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. Because there are so many species, identification is quite difficult, and relies on attributes including the shape of the antennae, the tarsal formulae and shapes of these small segments on
415-475: A beetle's environment. Beetle families may use antennae in different ways. For example, when moving quickly, tiger beetles may not be able to see very well and instead hold their antennae rigidly in front of them in order to avoid obstacles. Certain Cerambycidae use antennae to balance, and blister beetles may use them for grasping. Some aquatic beetle species may use antennae for gathering air and passing it under
498-491: A domed back and flat underside. Many of the species have conspicuous aposematic (warning) colours and patterns, such as red with black spots, that warn potential predators that they taste bad. Most coccinellid species are carnivorous predators, preying on insects such as aphids and scale insects . Other species are known to consume non-animal matter, including plants and fungi. They are promiscuous breeders, reproducing in spring and summer in temperate regions and during
581-744: A few fossils from North America before the middle Permian , although both Asia and North America had been united to Euramerica . The first discoveries from North America made in the Wellington Formation of Oklahoma were published in 2005 and 2008. The earliest members of modern beetle lineages appeared during the Late Permian . In the Permian–Triassic extinction event at the end of the Permian, most "protocoleopteran" lineages became extinct. Beetle diversity did not recover to pre-extinction levels until
664-441: A light-emitting organ for mating and communication purposes. Beetles typically have a particularly hard exoskeleton including the elytra , though some such as the rove beetles have very short elytra while blister beetles have softer elytra. The general anatomy of a beetle is quite uniform and typical of insects, although there are several examples of novelty, such as adaptations in water beetles which trap air bubbles under
747-406: A mass of at least 115 g (4.1 oz) and a length of 11.5 cm (4.5 in). Adult male goliath beetles are the heaviest beetle in its adult stage, weighing 70–100 g (2.5–3.5 oz) and measuring up to 11 cm (4.3 in). Adult elephant beetles , Megasoma elephas and Megasoma actaeon often reach 50 g (1.8 oz) and 10 cm (3.9 in). The longest beetle
830-456: A mobile tooth on their left mandible. The consistency of beetle morphology , in particular their possession of elytra , has long suggested that Coleoptera is monophyletic , though there have been doubts about the arrangement of the suborders , namely the Adephaga , Archostemata , Myxophaga and Polyphaga within that clade . The twisted-wing parasites, Strepsiptera , are thought to be
913-484: A particularly hard exoskeleton and hard forewings ( elytra ) not usable for flying. Almost all beetles have mandibles that move in a horizontal plane. The mouthparts are rarely suctorial, though they are sometimes reduced; the maxillae always bear palps. The antennae usually have 11 or fewer segments, except in some groups like the Cerambycidae (longhorn beetles) and the Rhipiceridae (cicada parasite beetles). The coxae of
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#1732858166703996-508: A sample of their toxic and bitter body fluid. Predator-deterring poisons are particularly important for the immobile pupa. Access to food can affect the concentration of both pigments and toxins. The similarity of coccinellid patterning in red and orange with black markings has led to suggestions that they and some species of chrysomelids form Müllerian mimicry rings particularly to defend them from birds. Despite their chemical defenses, coccinellids are preyed on by some clerid beetles in
1079-678: A sister group to the beetles, having split from them in the Early Permian . Molecular phylogenetic analysis confirms that the Coleoptera are monophyletic. Duane McKenna et al. (2015) used eight nuclear genes for 367 species from 172 of 183 Coleopteran families. They split the Adephaga into 2 clades, Hydradephaga and Geadephaga, broke up the Cucujoidea into 3 clades, and placed the Lymexyloidea within
1162-408: A string of beads , comb-like (either on one side or both, bipectinate), or toothed . The physical variation of antennae is important for the identification of many beetle groups. The Curculionidae have elbowed or geniculate antennae. Feather like flabellate antennae are a restricted form found in the Rhipiceridae and a few other families. The Silphidae have a capitate antennae with a spherical head at
1245-519: Is a widespread family of small beetles . They are commonly known as ladybugs in North America and ladybirds in the United Kingdom; "lady" refers to mother Mary . Entomologists use the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles to avoid confusion with true bugs . The more than 6,000 described species have a global distribution and are found in a variety of habitats. They are oval beetles with
1328-484: Is as agricultural, forestry, and horticultural pests . Serious pest species include the boll weevil of cotton, the Colorado potato beetle , the coconut hispine beetle , the mountain pine beetle , and many others. Most beetles, however, do not cause economic damage and some, such as numerous species of lady beetles , are beneficial by helping to control insect pests. The name of the taxonomic order, Coleoptera, comes from
1411-407: Is broad and convex, and can cover the back of the head. Being beetles, they have hardened, non-overlapping forewings , known as elytra , which cover up the more fragile hindwings when the insects are not in flight. Their legs are relatively short, with a tarsal formula of 4-4-4 (may appear 3-3-3 because the third segment of each tarsus is reduced). The tarsus (end of leg) has two claws at
1494-562: Is derived from the Latin word coccineus meaning ' scarlet ' . The common English name ladybird originated in Britain where the insects became known as "Our Lady's birds". Mary ("Our Lady") was often depicted wearing a red cloak in early art, and the seven spots of the species Coccinella septempunctata (the most common in Europe) were said to represent her seven joys and seven sorrows . In
1577-438: Is found, from trees and their bark to flowers, leaves, and underground near roots - even inside plants in galls, in every plant tissue, including dead or decaying ones. Tropical forest canopies have a large and diverse fauna of beetles, including Carabidae , Chrysomelidae , and Scarabaeidae . The heaviest beetle, indeed the heaviest insect stage, is the larva of the goliath beetle , Goliathus goliatus , which can attain
1660-826: Is further aided by creases in the membrane. These beetles may migrate long distances to hibernation and breeding sites, and areas with more food. They appear to be drawn to recognisable landmarks. The more crowded an area is, the more individuals leave, but will remain if there are enough prey species to feed on. "Trivial flights" refer to flying while foraging or when finding a place to lay eggs. One study of species in Britain found that coccinellids can fly as far as 120 km (75 mi). They flew at speeds of 30 km/h (19 mph) and could reach altitudes close to 1,100 m (3,600 ft). In temperate climates, coccinellids typically breed from late spring to early summer. In warmer temperate regions, reproduction may occur in spring, fall and winter; tropical species reproduce during
1743-519: Is limited to adult male spiders which are actively searching for females and exposed – unlike the females and young, which remain sheltered in burrows. Coccinellidae are found on every continent except Antarctica. Asian and African species are less studied than others. Coccinellids can be found in a variety of habitats, both on the ground and in the trees. They may specialise using certain plants. Some species can live in extreme environments such as high mountains, arid deserts and cold regions. Several of
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#17328581667031826-543: Is the Hercules beetle Dynastes hercules , with a maximum overall length of at least 16.7 cm (6.6 in) including the very long pronotal horn. The smallest recorded beetle and the smallest free-living insect (as of 2015 ), is the featherwing beetle Scydosella musawasensis which may measure as little as 325 μm in length. The oldest known beetle is Coleopsis , from the earliest Permian ( Asselian ) of Germany, around 295 million years ago. Early beetles from
1909-404: Is the largest of all orders, constituting almost 40% of described insects and 25% of all known animal species; new species are discovered frequently, with estimates suggesting that there are between 0.9 and 2.1 million total species. However, the number of beetle species is challenged by the number of species in dipterans (flies) and hymenopterans (wasps). Found in almost every habitat except
1992-437: 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 ). These polyphagan beetle groups can be identified by the presence of cervical sclerites (hardened parts of the head used as points of attachment for muscles) absent in
2075-406: Is the most basal diet of Coccinellidae. Aphid-eating evolved three separate times and leaf-eating evolved twice, one of which evolved from a clade that contains both aphid-eating and pollen -eating. The fungi-eating also evolved from aphid-eating. Coccinellids mostly fly during the day. Springy, cylindrical veins in the hindwings stiffen when in flight and bend when folding. Folding of the wings
2158-568: The Cretaceous , the oldest fossils of the group are known from the Oise amber of France, dating to the Early Eocene ( Ypresian ) around 53 million years ago, which belong to the extant genera Rhyzobius and Nephus . The greatest number of fossils comes from the younger Eocene Baltic amber , including members of the extant genera Serangium and Rhyzobius as well as extinct genera belonging to
2241-908: The Dytiscidae (diving beetles) , Haliplidae , and many species of Hydrophilidae , the legs, often the last pair, are modified for swimming, typically with rows of long hairs. Male diving beetles have suctorial cups on their forelegs that they use to grasp females. Other beetles have fossorial legs widened and often spined for digging. Species with such adaptations are found among the scarabs, ground beetles, and clown beetles ( Histeridae ). The hind legs of some beetles, such as flea beetles (within Chrysomelidae) and flea weevils (within Curculionidae), have enlarged femurs that help them leap. Coccinellidae (traditional, but see below ): Coccinellidae ( / ˌ k ɒ k s ɪ ˈ n ɛ l ɪ d iː / )
2324-521: The Greek koleopteros (κολεόπτερος), given to the group by Aristotle for their elytra , hardened shield-like forewings, from koleos , sheath, and pteron , wing. The English name beetle comes from the Old English word bitela , little biter, related to bītan (to bite), leading to Middle English betylle . Another Old English name for beetle is ċeafor , chafer, used in names such as cockchafer , from
2407-640: The Middle Triassic . During the Jurassic ( 210 to 145 mya ), there was a dramatic increase in the diversity of beetle families, including the development and growth of carnivorous and herbivorous species. The Chrysomeloidea diversified around the same time, feeding on a wide array of plant hosts from cycads and conifers to angiosperms . Close to the Upper Jurassic, the Cupedidae decreased, but
2490-456: The monophyly (single ancestry) of most of these subfamilies. The monophyly of Coccinellinae has the most support. A 2021 genetic study sampling many species, identified three subfamilies, Microweiseinae (with three tribes), Coccinellinae (26 tribes) and a newly identified group, the Monocoryninae (one tribe). All three subfamilies were strongly supported, but the study noted that although
2573-431: The sacred scarabs of ancient Egypt to beetlewing art and use as pets or fighting insects for entertainment and gambling. Many beetle groups are brightly and attractively colored making them objects of collection and decorative displays. Over 300 species are used as food , mostly as larvae ; species widely consumed include mealworms and rhinoceros beetle larvae. However, the major impact of beetles on human life
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2656-415: The telephone-pole beetle . The Archostemata have an exposed plate called the metatrochantin in front of the basal segment or coxa of the hind leg. Myxophaga contains about 65 described species in four families, mostly very small, including Hydroscaphidae and the genus Sphaerius . The myxophagan beetles are small and mostly alga-feeders. Their mouthparts are characteristic in lacking galeae and having
2739-1082: The wet season in tropical regions. Many predatory species lay their eggs near colonies of prey, providing their larvae with a food source. Like most insects, they develop from larva to pupa to adult. Temperate species hibernate and diapause during the winter; tropical species are dormant during the dry season . Coccinellids migrate between dormancy and breeding sites. Species that prey on agricultural pests are considered beneficial insects . Several species have been introduced outside their range as biological control agents, with varying degrees of success. Some species are pests themselves and attack agricultural crops, or can infest people's homes, particularly in winter. Invasive species like Harmonia axyridis can pose an ecological threat to native coccinellid species. Other threats to coccinellids include climate change and habitat destruction . These insects have played roles in folklore , religion and poetry, and are particularly popular in nursery rhymes . The name Coccinellidae , created by Pierre André Latreille in 1807,
2822-473: The wet season . Mating is promiscuous . In some species, females appear to be selective in their partners, preferring males of a certain size and colour. Males produce sperm packets each with 14,000 sperm, and insert three of them into the female, even though she can only hold 18,000 sperm. This is likely a form of sperm competition . Like other insects, coccinellids develop from egg, to larva, to pupa and finally adult. Eggs tend to be bright yellow, and
2905-674: The Cretaceous. The first scarab beetles were not coprophagous but presumably fed on rotting wood with the help of fungus; they are an early example of a mutualistic relationship. There are more than 150 important fossil sites from the Jurassic, the majority in Eastern Europe and North Asia. Outstanding sites include Solnhofen in Upper Bavaria , Germany, Karatau in South Kazakhstan ,
2988-559: The Permian, which are collectively grouped into the " Protocoleoptera " are thought to have been xylophagous (wood eating) and wood boring . Fossils from this time have been found in Siberia and Europe, for instance in the red slate fossil beds of Niedermoschel near Mainz, Germany. Further fossils have been found in Obora, Czech Republic and Tshekarda in the Ural mountains, Russia. However, there are only
3071-476: The Proto-Germanic * kebrô ("beetle"; compare German Käfer , Dutch kever , Afrikaans kewer ). Beetles are by far the largest order of insects: the roughly 400,000 species make up about 40% of all insect species so far described, and about 25% of all animal species. A 2015 study provided four independent estimates of the total number of beetle species, giving a mean estimate of some 1.5 million with
3154-656: The Quaternary caused beetles to change their geographic distributions so much that current location gives little clue to the biogeographical history of a species. It is evident that geographic isolation of populations must often have been broken as insects moved under the influence of changing climate, causing mixing of gene pools, rapid evolution, and extinctions, especially in middle latitudes. The very large number of beetle species poses special problems for classification . Some families contain tens of thousands of species, and need to be divided into subfamilies and tribes. Polyphaga
3237-465: The Scarabaeidae are Japanese beetles, dung beetles , June beetles , rose chafers ( Australian , European , and North American ), rhinoceros beetles , Hercules beetles and Goliath beetles . Several members of this family have structurally coloured shells which act as left-handed circular polarisers; this was the first-discovered example of circular polarization in nature . In Ancient Egypt ,
3320-1997: The Tenebrionoidea. The Polyphaga appear to date from the Triassic. Most extant beetle families appear to have arisen in the Cretaceous. The cladogram is based on McKenna (2015). The number of species in each group (mainly superfamilies) is shown in parentheses, and boldface if over 10,000. English common names are given where possible. Dates of origin of major groups are shown in italics in millions of years ago (mya). Archostemata 160 mya (40) [REDACTED] Myxophaga 220 mya (94) [REDACTED] Hydradephaga (5,560) e.g. Dytiscidae (diving beetles) [REDACTED] Geadephaga ( 35,000 ) e.g. Carabidae (ground beetles) [REDACTED] Scirtoidea (800) + Derodontoidea (29) 200 mya [REDACTED] Staphylinidae 195 mya ( 48,000 , rove beetles) [REDACTED] Scarabaeoidea 145 mya ( 35,000 , scarabs, stag beetles, etc.) [REDACTED] Hydrophiloidea (2,800, water scavenger beetles) [REDACTED] Histeroidea (3,800, clown beetles) [REDACTED] Nosodendridae (70) Dascilloidea (180) [REDACTED] Buprestoidea ( 14,000 , jewel beetles) [REDACTED] Byrrhoidea (400, pill and turtle beetles, etc.) [REDACTED] Elateroidea ( 23,000 , click and soldier beetles, fireflies) [REDACTED] Bostrichoidea (3150, deathwatch, powderpost and skin beetles) [REDACTED] Coccinelloidea (6,000, ladybirds or lady beetles) [REDACTED] Tenebrionoidea 180 mya ( 35,000 , leaf/flower beetles, etc.) and Lymexyloidea [REDACTED] Cleroidea (9,900, checkered beetles and allies) [REDACTED] Cucujoidea (8,000) [REDACTED] Chrysomelidae ( 35,000 , leaf beetles) [REDACTED] Cerambycidae ( 25,000 , longhorn beetles) [REDACTED] Curculionoidea ( 97,000 , weevils) [REDACTED] Beetles are generally characterized by
3403-898: The United States, the name was popularly adapted to ladybug . Entomologists prefer the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles to avoid confusion with true bugs . Names in some other countries may be similar; for example, in Germany they are known as Marienkäfer meaning ' Marybeetle ' or ' ladybeetle ' . Coccinellids range in size from 0.8 to 18 mm (0.03–0.7 in). They are sexually dimorphic ; adult females tend to be slightly larger than males. They are generally oval with domed backs and flattened undersides. They have large compound eyes and clubbed antennae with seven to eleven segments. The powerful mandibles (equivalent to jaws) typically have pairs of "teeth" which face each other. The coccinellid prothorax (front of thorax)
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3486-726: The Upper Cretaceous include Kzyl-Dzhar in South Kazakhstan and Arkagala in Russia. Beetle fossils are abundant in the Cenozoic; by the Quaternary (up to 1.6 mya), fossil species are identical to living ones, while from the Late Miocene (5.7 mya) the fossils are still so close to modern forms that they are most likely the ancestors of living species. The large oscillations in climate during
3569-763: The Yixian formation in Liaoning , North China, as well as the Jiulongshan formation and further fossil sites in Mongolia . In North America there are only a few sites with fossil records of insects from the Jurassic, namely the shell limestone deposits in the Hartford basin, the Deerfield basin and the Newark basin. The Cretaceous saw the fragmenting of the southern landmass, with the opening of
3652-466: The abdominal segments, in particular, each having six divided into pairs, and one to three segmented antennae. Their colouration varies from grey, blue-grey, grey-brown or brown and spotted with white, yellow, red or orange. They tend to brighten as they get closer to adulthood. Over 6,000 living species of Coccinellidae have been described. They are sparsely preserved in the fossil record. Although molecular clock estimates have placed their origin in
3735-456: The aquatic whirligig beetles ( Gyrinidae ), where they are split to allow a view both above and below the waterline. A few Longhorn beetles ( Cerambycidae ) and weevils as well as some fireflies ( Rhagophthalmidae ) have divided eyes, while many have eyes that are notched, and a few have ocelli , small, simple eyes usually farther back on the head (on the vertex ); these are more common in larvae than in adults. The anatomical organization of
3818-447: The back part of the thorax is concealed by the beetle's wings . This further segmentation is usually best seen on the abdomen. The multisegmented legs end in two to five small segments called tarsi. Like many other insect orders, beetles have claws, usually one pair, on the end of the last tarsal segment of each leg. While most beetles use their legs for walking, legs have been variously adapted for other uses. Aquatic beetles including
3901-631: The bark of trees together with the jewel beetles (Buprestidae). The diversity of jewel beetles increased rapidly, as they were the primary consumers of wood, while longhorn beetles ( Cerambycidae ) were rather rare: their diversity increased only towards the end of the Upper Cretaceous. The first coprophagous beetles are from the Upper Cretaceous and may have lived on the excrement of herbivorous dinosaurs. The first species where both larvae and adults are adapted to an aquatic lifestyle are found. Whirligig beetles (Gyrinidae) were moderately diverse, although other early beetles (e.g. Dytiscidae) were less, with
3984-433: The body whilst submerged. Equally, some families use antennae during mating, and a few species use them for defense. In the cerambycid Onychocerus albitarsis , the antennae have venom injecting structures used in defense, which is unique among arthropods . Antennae vary greatly in form, sometimes between the sexes, but are often similar within any given family. Antennae may be clubbed , threadlike , angled , shaped like
4067-565: The brood of the ant Wasmannia auropunctata . Cannibalism has been recorded in several species; which includes larvae eating eggs or other larvae, and adults feeding on individuals of any life stage. Some coccinellids are mostly non-predatory, such as some species in the genera Epilachna and Henosepilachna . The majority of predatory species may also supplement their diet with other sources of food both in their larval and adult stages. Non-animal matter consumed include leaves, pollen, nectar , sap , fungi, and honeydew . Members of
4150-543: The compound eyes may be modified and depends on whether a species is primarily crepuscular, or diurnally or nocturnally active. Ocelli are found in the adult carpet beetle (as a single central ocellus in Dermestidae ), some rove beetles ( Omaliinae ), and the Derodontidae . Beetle antennae are primarily organs of sensory perception and can detect motion, odor and chemical substances, but may also be used to physically feel
4233-644: The diversity of the early plant-eating species increased. Most recent plant-eating beetles feed on flowering plants or angiosperms, whose success contributed to a doubling of plant-eating species during the Middle Jurassic . However, the increase of the number of beetle families during the Cretaceous does not correlate with the increase of the number of angiosperm species. Around the same time, numerous primitive weevils (e.g. Curculionoidea ) and click beetles (e.g. Elateroidea ) appeared. The first jewel beetles (e.g. Buprestidae ) are present, but they remained rare until
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#17328581667034316-628: The dung beetle now known as Scarabaeus sacer (formerly Ateuchus sacer ) was revered as sacred. Egyptian amulets representing the sacred scarab beetles were traded throughout the Mediterranean world. Beetle See subgroups of the order Coleoptera Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera ( / k oʊ l iː ˈ ɒ p t ər ə / ), in the superorder Holometabola . Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra , distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 described species,
4399-715: The elytra for use while diving. Beetles are holometabolans , which means that they undergo complete metamorphosis , with a series of conspicuous and relatively abrupt changes in body structure between hatching and becoming adult after a relatively immobile pupal stage. Some, such as stag beetles , have a marked sexual dimorphism , the males possessing enormously enlarged mandibles which they use to fight other males. Many beetles are aposematic , with bright colors and patterns warning of their toxicity, while others are harmless Batesian mimics of such insects. Many beetles, including those that live in sandy places, have effective camouflage . Beetles are prominent in human culture , from
4482-583: The evolutionary biologist J. B. S. Haldane to quip, when some theologians asked him what could be inferred about the mind of the Christian God from the works of His Creation, "An inordinate fondness for beetles". However, the ranking of beetles as most diverse has been challenged. Multiple studies posit that Diptera (flies) and/or Hymenoptera (sawflies, wasps, ants and bees) may have more species. Beetles are found in nearly all habitats, including freshwater and coastal habitats, wherever vegetative foliage
4565-409: The females lay them close together, standing upright and near where they can access food. The number of eggs in a cluster can vary depending on the species; it is typically in the double digits but some species can lay over a thousand eggs in their lifetime. After hatching, the larvae will begin eating, including the other eggs in their clutch. Certain species lay extra infertile trophic eggs with
4648-404: The fertile eggs, providing a backup food source for the larvae when they hatch. The ratio of infertile to fertile eggs increases with scarcity of food at the time of egg laying. Larvae typically have four instar stages with three moults between them. The larva eventually transitions into a pupa; which involves the development of a hunch, the fusion of the legs to the body, and the attachment of
4731-440: The first part is called the scape and the second part is the pedicel. The other segments are jointly called the flagellum. Beetles have mouthparts like those of grasshoppers . The mandibles appear as large pincers on the front of some beetles. 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,
4814-460: The flower chafers ( Cetoniinae ) and many leaf chafers ( Rutelinae ) are active during the day. The grubs mostly live underground or under debris, so are not exposed to sunlight. Many scarabs are scavengers that recycle dung, carrion , or decaying plant material. Others, such as the Japanese beetle , are plant-eaters , wreaking havoc on various crops and vegetation. Some of the well-known beetles from
4897-426: The genus Enoclerus , several species of which are brightly coloured in red and black, and which possibly sequester the toxins of the prey to defend themselves against other predators. As an anti-predator defense, spiders of the genus Eresus , known as ladybird spiders, have evolved to replicate the patterns of coccinellids. This is a form of Batesian mimicry , as the spiders lack the chemicals. This resemblance
4980-490: The insects, including citizen science and education programs, habitat preservation and restoration, prevention of the spread of invasive species and a global monitoring program. Coccinellids have been valued in biological pest control , as they prey on agricultural pests such as aphids and scale insects. Their importance in controlling pests was noted as far back as 1814 in England. Their efficiency can vary: sometimes they have
5063-414: The larva stage lasts around three weeks and the pupa lasts seven to ten days. Adult coccinellids develop much of their final colouration within hours, but may not fully darken for weeks or months. The lifespan of an adult reaches up to a year. In temperate areas, coccinellids may hibernate or enter diapause during the winter. Individuals during this period gather in clumps, large or small depending on
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#17328581667035146-430: The larvae of moths and other beetles, as well as mites . Since much of their prey are agricultural pests, coccinellids are considered to be beneficial insects . A 2009 metastudy by Hodek and Honěk found that aphid-eaters constituted around 68 percent of species that live in temperate areas but only 20 percent of species worldwide. Around 36 percent of total species mostly feed on scale insects. Larvae and adults eat
5229-431: The legs are usually located recessed within a coxal cavity. The genitalic structures are telescoped into the last abdominal segment in all extant beetles. Beetle larvae can often be confused with those of other holometabolan groups. The beetle's exoskeleton is made up of numerous plates, called sclerites , separated by thin sutures. This design provides armored defenses while maintaining flexibility. The general anatomy of
5312-407: The legs, the mouthparts, and the ventral plates (sterna, pleura, coxae). In many species accurate identification can only be made by examination of the unique male genitalic structures. The head, having mouthparts projecting forward or sometimes downturned, is usually heavily sclerotized and is sometimes very large. The eyes are compound and may display remarkable adaptability, as in the case of
5395-437: The lighter colours, and melanins create darker colours. Other parts of the body also vary in colouration. These colour patterns typically serve as warning colouration , but some can act as camouflage , attract mates or even regulate heat. Several individual species may display polymorphism and even change colour between seasons. Coccinellid larvae are elongated with square heads. They are covered in hairs or setae ,
5478-489: The maxillary and labial palpi, are found around the mouth in most beetles, serving to move food into the mouth. In many species, the mandibles are sexually dimorphic, with those of the males enlarged enormously compared with those of females of the same species. The thorax is segmented into the two discernible parts, the pro- and pterothorax. The pterothorax is the fused meso- and metathorax, which are commonly separated in other insect species, although flexibly articulate from
5561-540: The most famous species have wide ranges, but others are more endemic and possibly threatened. Threats to coccinellids include climate change , agriculture, urbanisation, and invasive species . Coccinellid biodiversity will likely be affected by the rising of both average temperatures and heat fluctuations. Climate change may lead to smaller larvae, as well as increase energy and metabolic needs and interspecific predation. Agriculture and urbanisation threatens these insects though habitat destruction and homogenisation and
5644-485: The most widespread being the species of Coptoclavidae , which preyed on aquatic fly larvae. A 2020 review of the palaeoecological interpretations of fossil beetles from Cretaceous ambers has suggested that saproxylicity was the most common feeding strategy, with fungivorous species in particular appearing to dominate. Many fossil sites worldwide contain beetles from the Cretaceous. Most are in Europe and Asia and belong to
5727-490: The other suborders. Adephaga contains about 10 families of largely predatory beetles, includes ground beetles (Carabidae), water beetles ( Dytiscidae ) and whirligig beetles (Gyrinidae). In these insects, 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). Archostemata contains four families of mainly wood-eating beetles, including reticulated beetles (Cupedidae) and
5810-483: The posterior to the surface. Pupae may be uncovered, partially covered or fully covered by larval skin depending on the species. The pupa is mostly immobile, but the head can move in response to irritation. When the adult emerges, it has its hindwings, while the elytron starts out softer and lighter in colour, with no patterns. The length of each development stage varies based on climate and between species. For Adalia bipunctata , eggs hatch after four to eight days,
5893-410: The prothorax. 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;
5976-974: The same foods, unlike in other insect groups. Ladybird species vary in dietary specificity . An example of a specialist species is those of the genus Stethorus , which feed on spider mites . Aphid-eaters tend to be generalist; they have a high voracity and can multiply quickly in response to outbreaks, and switch to other prey when the ephemeral aphids become scarce. Predators of scale insects tend to be less voracious and are slower breeders and developers; matching their prey. Under pressure from coccinellid predation, aphid species have evolved to become more toxic, forcing coccinellids to develop immunities. Coccinellid predators of aphids need to defend themselves against ants that tend and defend aphids for their honeydew, and coccinellid eggs laid near aphids are disposed of. Some species including Coccinella magnifica and Diomus have adapted to grow within ant nests as larvae, and some like Diomus thoracicus are predators of
6059-510: The sea and the polar regions , they interact with their ecosystems in several ways: beetles often feed on plants and fungi , break down animal and plant debris, and eat other invertebrates . Some species are serious agricultural pests, such as the Colorado potato beetle , while others such as Coccinellidae (ladybirds or ladybugs) eat aphids , scale insects , thrips , and other plant-sucking insects that damage crops. Some others also have unusual characteristics, such as fireflies , which use
6142-652: The southern Atlantic Ocean and the isolation of New Zealand, while South America, Antarctica, and Australia grew more distant. The diversity of Cupedidae and Archostemata decreased considerably. Predatory ground beetles (Carabidae) and rove beetles (Staphylinidae) began to distribute into different patterns; the Carabidae predominantly occurred in the warm regions, while the Staphylinidae and click beetles (Elateridae) preferred temperate climates. Likewise, predatory species of Cleroidea and Cucujoidea hunted their prey under
6225-631: The species. Overwintering insects can be found both in lowland areas, aggregating under dead vegetation, and at the tops of hills, hibernating under rocks and on grass tussocks . In areas with particularly hot summers, the insects experience summer dormancy or aestivation ; in the tropics, coccinellids enter dormancy during the dry season . Coccinellids act both as predators, prey and parasitic hosts in food webs . The majority of coccinellids are carnivorous and predatory , typically preying on Sternorrhyncha insects like aphids, scale insects, whiteflies , psyllids and adelgids . Some species feed on
6308-678: The temperate climate zone during the Cretaceous. Lower Cretaceous sites include the Crato fossil beds in the Araripe basin in the Ceará , North Brazil, as well as overlying Santana formation; the latter was near the equator at that time. In Spain, important sites are near Montsec and Las Hoyas . In Australia, the Koonwarra fossil beds of the Korumburra group, South Gippsland , Victoria, are noteworthy. Major sites from
6391-445: The tip. As adults, these beetles differ from their closest relatives with the following morphological characteristics: Coccinellids are often distinctively coloured and patterned. The elytron may be light with dark spots or dark with light spots. Light areas are typically yellow, red, orange or brown, and the spots vary in size and shape and numbers. Some species have striped or checkered patterns . The pigment carotene creates
6474-478: The tip. The Scarabaeidae typically have lamellate antennae with the terminal segments extended into long flat structures stacked together. The Carabidae typically have thread-like antennae. The antennae arises between the eye and the mandibles and in the Tenebrionidae, the antennae rise in front of a notch that breaks the usually circular outline of the compound eye. They are segmented and usually consist of 11 parts,
6557-747: The tribe Halyziini of the subfamily Coccinellinae are obligate fungus feeders. Coccinellids of any lifestage are preyed on by predators such as birds, spiders, ants and lacewings . They are also hosts for parasites, including some flies , ticks , mites, hymenopterans and nematodes , and pathogens, including bacteria, fungi and protozoa . Wolbachia bacteria infects eggs and kills male zygotes. The promiscuity of Coccinellids has led to their being affected by sexually transmitted infections . The bright warning colouration of many coccinellids discourage potential predators , warning of their toxicity . A 2015 study of five ladybird species found that their colouration honestly signalled their toxicity, implying
6640-1192: The tribes Microweiseini ( Baltosidis ) and Sticholotidini ( Electrolotis ). The Coccinellidae are within the superfamily Coccinelloidea , which in turn is part of the infraorder Cucujiformia , a group containing most of the plant-eating beetles. The ladybirds form the majority of the species in the Coccinelloidea; many of the rest are fungus-feeding beetles or scavengers . Lymexyloidea [REDACTED] Tenebrionoidea [REDACTED] Cleroidea [REDACTED] Chrysomeloidea [REDACTED] Curculionoidea [REDACTED] Cucujoidea [REDACTED] Bothrideridae and allies [REDACTED] Latridiidae [REDACTED] Akalyptoischiidae [REDACTED] Alexiidae [REDACTED] Corylophidae and allies [REDACTED] Endomychidae [REDACTED] Coccinellidae [REDACTED] Coccinellidae have historically been divided into up seven subfamilies ( Chilocorinae , Coccidulinae , Coccinellinae , Epilachninae , Microweiseinae , Scymninae and Sticholotidinae ) and 35 tribes based on morphology. However, genetics studies have called into question
6723-761: The tribes are mostly monophyletic, their relationships are only weakly supported. The study suggests that the crown group appeared some 143 Mya in the Early Cretaceous , and that the group diversified rapidly during the Late Cretaceous, perhaps because the growth in diversity of angiosperm plants then encouraged the radiation of insects of the clade Sternorrhyncha such as aphids , on which ladybirds could feed. Microweiseinae [REDACTED] Monocoryninae Stethorini [REDACTED] Coccinellini [REDACTED] other tribes [REDACTED] An earlier 2009 study concluded that consumption of scale insects
6806-491: The use of pesticides . Invasive threats include other coccinellids, particularly C. septempunctata in North America and H. axyridis globally. These invaders outcompete the native species as well as eat their eggs. As of 2022, the IUCN Red List does not list the conservation status for any coccinellid, though there is an IUCN SSC Ladybird Specialist Group. Conservationists have suggested several measures for protecting
6889-465: The warning is genuine. Species with more contrast with the background environment tended to be more toxic. Coccinellid haemolymph (blood) contains toxic alkaloids , azamacrolides and polyamines , as well as foul-smelling pyrazines . Coccinellids can produce at least 50 types of alkaloids. When disturbed, ladybirds further defend themselves with reflex bleeding , exuding drops from their tibio-femoral (knee) joints, effectively presenting predators with
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