More About Beetles

The world is full of insects, bugs, animals, plants and humans. Of the hundreds of millions of life forms on earth and the nearly 800,000 kinds of insects on earth, nearly half of the insects are beetles. And of those beetles, some are considered a problem and pests while others are considered to be cute or of good fortune.

The appearance and diet of each vary. The impact of diet, especially, not only influences the reputation of each kind of beetle, but also influences the lives of humans. Not only have these creatures affected the lives of people, but also various human cultures.

Beetles, like other insects, have three main body parts. Each beetle has a head, a thorax and an abdomen. Feelers, or antenna, are located on the head. This part of the beetle is used to feel, hear, taste and smell the world around them. Beetles hear or feel vibrations to help them communicate and learn about their surroundings.

Six legs and four wings are attached to the thorax. The wings are unique in beetles in that the front wings are hard and used to protect the body of the beetle when they are not flying. This hard wing cover is called elytra. The hind wings, however, are not hard; they are thin and used for flying.

The abdomen has a hard shell, the elytra, to protect its internal organs and enables it to go places that other insects would be unable to go to, or be crushed. This resilience allows beetles to survive

Like various animals and creatures in our world some beetles are destructive and considered a problem and pest while other beetles are considered helpful or lucky. A few destructive beetles, for example, are the Carpet beetles, Powder Post beetles, and Merchant Grain Beetles.

They destroy by their eating. They destroy crops and property. These beetles eat a variety of items like plants, carpet, wood, wool, fur, hair, silk, cereals, cookies, and even macaroni. Eating all of this could do significant damage and destruction to homes, property and crops.

However, other types of beetles such as ladybugs are considered helpful and lucky. These beetles eat insects, like aphids, which suck the juices out of plants like roses.

Additionally, ladybugs are considered to be lucky in many cultures. There are legends across many cultures telling of the fortune given for good luck, good marriage, many children and good health.