Concept in Definition ABC

In the animal kingdom the different species of beetles, also known as coleoptera, are integrated within the order coleoptera. This group presents a series of shared morphological characteristics. Thus, they are holometallobes, that is, the larvae are very different from the adult form, their body presents an armor known as the sclera, they have a powerful apparatus chewer, they have two pairs of wings and the body is made up of three structures: head, thorax and abdomen.

The coleoptera order is divided into four suborders: arcostemados, adéphagos, mixophagos, and polfagos. In any case, it is the animal order that has a greater number of species, since they exceed 360,000.

Normally, males attract females with powerful hormones and females do the same through pheromones.

The fertilized female is responsible for finding the right place to lay her eggs. In some genera the females take care of the larvae.

Longevity is directly related to the size of the beetle (in some cases they reach eight years of life).

His feeding it can be omnivorous, herbivorous, or carnivorous. As a general guideline, it is a terrestrial animal and adapts to all types of ecosystems.

Before becoming an adult, the beetle goes through a worm-shaped larval phase.

From an evolutionary point of view it is one of the oldest orders of the animal kingdom, since it has inhabited the Earth for 300 million years. It is estimated that 40% of the insects are coleopterans.

His relationship with humans

Coleoptera are not a threat direct to the Health of people. However, they can cause significant losses in resources forestry and crops. Some species can be very favorable, as they fight other invasive pests.

In the civilization from Ancient Egypt the scarab was a deified animal, specifically it was related to the god Khepri. It represented protection against the threat of disease.

On the other hand, his representation It was used in the mummification process, since this animal also symbolized the idea of ​​resurrection.

In today's popular culture it continues to be a symbol good luck and for this reason there are ornaments and charms in the shape of coleopterans.

Curiosities

Its size is very varied, from a few millimeters to almost 20 centimeters in the case of the Goliath beetle.

Some have a strange ability, since they can generate light by themselves (this phenomenon is known as bioluminescence).

Not all beetles can fly.

The dung beetle is the most common of the coleopterans and they are highly appreciated by farmers, since they eliminate animal excrement and favor the creation of natural compost.

Photo: Fotolia - Henrik Larsson

Topics in Coleoptera