photo by: Lisa Robinson
Order Coleoptera – beetles
Coleoptera means “sheath wings”
Traits :
- Hardened forewings (elytra) cover the body and protect delicate hindwings
- At rest, elytra meet in a straight line down middle of the back
- Hind wings used for flight, elytra held out for balance
- Chewing mouthparts
- >350,000 species worldwide
- At least 25% of all animal species on earth
- Highly varied in size, eating habits, habitats
Long-horned beetles
Ladybird beetle
Darkling beetle
Long-horned beetle
June beetle