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Rhinoceros beetle larvae6/11/2023 ![]() ![]() Some beetles that live in deserts have lost the ability to fly.Īll beetles have jointed legs, but leg shape and size varies, depending on the beetle's lifestyle. Water beetles are good swimmers, and many can fly as well. Most beetles can fly, although they do so in a slow, clumsy manner. Sunburst diving beetles carry a bubble on their rear end that pulls oxygen from the water and helps the beetle stay under just a little longer. Whirligig beetles (Gyrinidae family), which swim on the surface of ponds, have divided eyes: one half for vision under water, the other for seeing above the water so they can find food that drops in or floats by. Beetles that rely on vision for hunting (ground beetles) or breeding (fireflies, Lampyridae family) have larger eyes. Compound eyes are very sensitive to movement and can probably see in color. Most beetles have compound eyes (eyes that are divided into many six-sided compartments). Tiny hairs on its body and legs, called setae, are sensitive to touch, sound, smell, taste, and light. A beetle uses its legs to regularly clean those important antennae. ![]() They also alert the beetle to vibrations in the air that could mean a predator is near. A tough exoskeleton and the elytra protect the beetle's soft membranes and keep the beetle from drying out or getting waterlogged.įlexible, long antennae on the beetle's head act like feelers to help the beetle find food, a mate, and places to lay eggs. Others can live underwater because they are able to trap air under the elytra.Ībdomen- The abdomen contains the organs for digestion and reproduction. Some are able to trap moisture under their wings, helping them survive in deserts where water is scarce. Thick, hardened front wings, called elytra, cover most of the beetle's body and its back wings offer great protection. The beetle's six legs and its wings are attached to these parts. Thorax- The thorax is the powerhouse of the beetle body, divided into three parts. Some horned beetles have extensions on their head that remind scientists of horns or antlers. Head- The head is where the beetle's eyes, mouth, brain, and antennae are found. Many are brilliantly colored, like jewels, while others cleverly blend into their environment.īeetle body parts. The body of the beetle consists of three main segments: head, thorax, and abdomen. Some beetles are as large as your fist others are so small they can fit through the eye of a needle. No other group has such a range of color, shape, and size. You may be familiar with some of the many different beetles by their common names: ladybugs, June bugs, weevils, lightning bugs or fireflies, borers, and potato bugs. Yet scientists who study beetles (coleopterists) are certain there are thousands more that have not been discovered yet! Currently, more than 350,000 beetle species have been identified. Beetle-mania. Beetles are the largest group in the Animal Kingdom, representing about a fourth of all animals. ![]()
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