Beetles represent the largest Order of insects, containing over 250,000 described species. Beetle groups include tiger beetles, ground beetles, water beetles, whirligig beetles, fungus beetles, rove beetles, stag beetles, scarab beetles, wood-boring beetles, click beetles, fireflies, dermestids, ladybird beetles, darkling beetles, longhorn beetles, blister beetles, leaf beetles, weevils and many others.

This striking white weevil posed for us at the side of a trail leading to a remote village in Sulawesi. Weevils are also called snout beetles; characterized by their elongated region in front of their eyes. Larvae of these beetles are usually shaped like the letter “C” and are pale to white in color and lack legs. Maybe you have heard the expression, “weevils wobble but they don’t fall down. In 1915, cotton crops in Enterprise, Alabama were devastated by seed infected by the Boll Weevil which forced them to diversify. In honor of this ultimately fortuitous change in planting, the town erected a “statue of liberty” type lady with a large Boll Weevil perched on her head.

]]> http://www.insects.org/entophiles/cole_008.html/feed 0 http://www.insects.org/entophiles/cole_015.html http://www.insects.org/entophiles/cole_015.html#comments Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:11:21 +0000 admin http://www.insects.org/uncategorized/stag-beetle-lucanus-spp/

• Common Name: Stag Beetle
• Order Name: Coleoptera
• Family Name: Lucanidae

Beetles represent the largest Order of insects, containing over 250,000 described species. Beetle groups include tiger beetles, ground beetles, water beetles, whirligig beetles, fungus beetles, rove beetles, stag beetles, scarab beetles, wood-boring beetles, click beetles, fireflies, dermestids, ladybird beetles, darkling beetles, longhorn beetles, blister beetles, leaf beetles, weevils and many others.

The impressive antler-like mandible jaws of this male are used in mating rite battles and are more for show and simply dislodging other males from choice branches than to inflict lethal damage. The shorter female jaws often more capable of inflicting a painful bite. This group can be recognized by elbowed antennae ending with a club. Adults eat leaves and bark. Albrecht D?rer immortalized this beetle in a famous watercolor painting. C-shaped larvae. In Germany, the scarab beetle in the form of a stag beetle was equated as a symbol of Christ. European folklore believed male stag beetles were associated with setting fire to thatched building by transporting burning embers perhaps from their lightning singed oak tree homes. Turkish good luck charms use the male jaws to ward off evil.

Beetles represent the largest Order of insects, containing over 250,000 described species. Beetle groups include tiger beetles, ground beetles, water beetles, whirligig beetles, fungus beetles, rove beetles, stag beetles, scarab beetles, wood-boring beetles, click beetles, fireflies, dermestids, ladybird beetles, darkling beetles, longhorn beetles, blister beetles, leaf beetles, weevils and many others.

Chrysomelid leaf beetles are often considered pests. This striped cucumber beetle photographed in California lays its eggs in the soil near a plant in the cucumber or melon vines. The hatched worm-like beetle larvae then bore into and feed on the roots, often weakening the plant. Plants continue to suffer as the adult beetle chews holes in the leaves. The best known pest Chrysomelid is the Colorado Potato Beetle which devours potato crops. In the summer months, these beetle are quite numerous.

Beetles represent the largest Order of insects, containing over 250,000 described species. Beetle groups include tiger beetles, ground beetles, water beetles, whirligig beetles, fungus beetles, rove beetles, stag beetles, scarab beetles, wood-boring beetles, click beetles, fireflies, dermestids, ladybird beetles, darkling beetles, longhorn beetles, blister beetles, leaf beetles, weevils and many others.

This tiger beetle was found on the sandy shores of Mono Lake in California. Tiger beetles are voracious predators, chasing down and flying after their prey and using their sickle-shaped jaws to secure the victim. Many species have iridescent coloration and are good vision. This beetle was chasing the plentiful brine flies which feed on algae at the lakes edge. Tiger beetle larvae are also highly predaceous and sit in sand burrows waiting to ambush passing prey which they drag underground to devour.

Beetles represent the largest Order of insects, containing over 250,000 described species. Beetle groups include tiger beetles, ground beetles, water beetles, whirligig beetles, fungus beetles, rove beetles, stag beetles, scarab beetles, wood-boring beetles, click beetles, fireflies, dermestids, ladybird beetles, darkling beetles, longhorn beetles, blister beetles, leaf beetles, weevils and many others.

These weevil beetle are known as billbugs for their well developed snouts. Adult weevils are attracted to rotting palm trunks where they lay their eggs. The weevil grubs are eaten in Africa and Indonesia as a nutritious source of fat and protein. Protective cocoons of this weevil are constructed from palm fibers. Adult weevils use practice thanotosis to protect themselves. This involves dropping to the ground and feigning death when disturbed. These beetles can become considerable pest to palm crops. Ancient Egyptian society saw pupal beetles as the mummies, symbolic of the death before the rebirth into the adult form.

Beetles represent the largest Order of insects, containing over 250,000 described species. Beetle groups include tiger beetles, ground beetles, water beetles, whirligig beetles, fungus beetles, rove beetles, stag beetles, scarab beetles, wood-boring beetles, click beetles, fireflies, dermestids, ladybird beetles, darkling beetles, longhorn beetles, blister beetles, leaf beetles, weevils and many others.

Beetles are the most diverse and numerous group of insects. This particular group feeds on fungus and often displays striking red or yellow coloration. Beetle carried profound symbolism for the Egyptian civilizations who worshipped the scarab beetles. They associated this beetle’s subterranean larval existence and above ground adult life with the rising and setting sun. In fact, mummies represented the beetle larva preparing for a reincarnation into the next world.

Beetles represent the largest Order of insects, containing over 250,000 described species. Beetle groups include tiger beetles, ground beetles, water beetles, whirligig beetles, fungus beetles, rove beetles, stag beetles, scarab beetles, wood-boring beetles, click beetles, fireflies, dermestids, ladybird beetles, darkling beetles, longhorn beetles, blister beetles, leaf beetles, weevils and many others.

Found under sheets of lose bark, these beetles live in communal aggregation and feed on the abundant rotting fungus. Mass hangings of pupal cases accompany this happy family. The adults display their hardened wing cases which take on a copper metallic appearance. The majority of insect species including all beetles develop with complete metamorphosis. This means they progress from an egg through a larval and pupal stage before becoming an adult. This system of growth is advantageous as it allows the beetle to develop specialized form and behavior for the fundamental activities of eating and growth versus reproduction as an adult. This adaptational flexibility translates into the stunning number and diversity of beetle species.

Beetles represent the largest Order of insects, containing over 250,000 described species. Beetle groups include tiger beetles, ground beetles, water beetles, whirligig beetles, fungus beetles, rove beetles, stag beetles, scarab beetles, wood-boring beetles, click beetles, fireflies, dermestids, ladybird beetles, darkling beetles, longhorn beetles, blister beetles, leaf beetles, weevils and many others.

Edgar Allan Poe’s immortalizes a golden scarab in his popular short story The Gold Bug which aims to expand our consciousness beyond our preconceptions of reality to the truth that lies beneath. Scarab beetles have historically carried profound symbolism as demonstrated by ancient Egyptian culture which associated the natural history of these beetles with the rising and setting of the sun. They have clubbed antennae comprised of leaf like plate and possess front legs capable of digging. Their larva are c-shaped and they eats foliage. This specimen was photographed in a remote mountainous region of Tana Toraja, in Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Beetles represent the largest Order of insects, containing over 250,000 described species. Beetle groups include tiger beetles, ground beetles, water beetles, whirligig beetles, fungus beetles, rove beetles, stag beetles, scarab beetles, wood-boring beetles, click beetles, fireflies, dermestids, ladybird beetles, darkling beetles, longhorn beetles, blister beetles, leaf beetles, weevils and many others.

This Brazilian Chrysolmelid leaf beetle clearly displays bright coloration characteristic to this group. All Chrysomelids are believed to be phytophagous (plant eaters) and as a group they are responsible for considerable plant destruction. Different group target fruit trees, asparagus, grains, potatoes, grapes, cucumbers, corn, elm, eggplants, tomatoes and many other plants. As an added detriment to the plant beyond general consumption are various plant diseases transmitted by these beetles. When disturbed, these beetles will often drop to the ground and feign death.