Beetles
The beetles are a number of insects which have a diverse selection of species. It also includes beetles since they have similar anatomical qualities according to the corresponding species.
What are coleopterans?
Also called coleópteras , a term that etymologically comes from the Greek κολεός which is pronounced koleos and means box, container or case and πτερον which is pronounced and pteron and means wing ; It is usually known as beetles , however, its original name is coleoptera , they are known as an order of insects with around 375,000 described species ; taking into account that an order in biology is a series of taxonomic categories between classes and familiesof insects that are composed almost in the same way, genetically speaking. This means that these beetles have as many or more species than vascular plants or fungi , and taking this into account it should be noted that they have sixty-six times more species than mammals , being in the entire animal kingdom and in part of the vegetative, the order with more species, these are followed by the Lepidoptera category in which butterflies and moths are included , these are followed by Hymenopterans in which insects such as bees, wasps and ants are included , after these are find the diptera, I finish with the one that flies and mosquitoes are classified .
- Evolution
- Beetle characteristics
- Types
- Habitat
- Coleoptera feeding
- Reproduction
- Larvae
- Breathing
- Coleoptera by country
- Examples
- Why are they called Coleoptera
- Importance
Evolution
This order of insects have a complete metamorphosis , that is, they go from larvae to imago, which would be the adult, when the larvae are left on the substrates they need to feed, they go through various stages , which can vary between one and fifteen Depending on the species to which it refers, these in each phase are shedding the skin at the same time, this action happens mostly with all species , however, some parasitic beetles which arise in larval stages different from those of another species, this peculiar phenomenon is recognized as hypermetamorphosis .
What is repeated in all the larvae of the different species is the cephalic capsule that usually shows a series of chewing-type mouthparts, after effectively overcoming all the stages, they look for a suitable place to start the pupal process , leaving for some time almost completely immobile and after this, from the pupal cortex, what is the imago is reborn , which would already be adult and ready to look for a mating partner.
Beetle characteristics
Some characteristics of coleopterans are the following:
- They are holometa bolus insects or endopterygotes.
- They go through a three-phase metamorphosis.
- His head is prognathic most of the time .
- Their eyes are compound .
- They have antennae that are located on the sides of their head.
- Most of the time, the jaws of these are chewing .
Types
Some types of coleoptera are the following:
- Antóphagos.
- Carpophagi or frugivores.
- Dungs.
- Predators
- Spermophagi.
- Philosophers.
- Mycophagi or fungivores.
- Ghouls
- Polyníphagos or polynivores.
- Rhizophagus.
- Saprophagus.
- Xylophages.
Habitat
The natural space where this species develops has the main characteristic of being xerophilous places , although it is usual that they stay in places where they can find their food.
Coleoptera feeding
- Antóphagos : This species feeds mainly on flowers.
- Carpophagous frugivores : They feed on fruits, such as ketone or potosia.
- Dung : Their food is based on droppings, such as Geotrupidae, Scarabaeinae or Aphodiinae.
- Predators : These are aggressive and hunt various animals for food, such as some insects, larvae, snails, and slugs.
- Spermophagi : This species feeds on seeds.
- Philosophages : They feed on leaves, and are generally taken as a pest by farmers and gardeners.
- Mycophagous fungivores : These feed on fungi.
- Ghouls : As the term says, they feed on corpses.
- Polyníphagos or polynivores : These, as is presumed in their type, feed on pollen.
- Rhizophages : They feed on various roots.
- Saprophagous : These feed on different decomposing plant matter.
- Xylophages : These feed on wood.
Reproduction
The females when they go into heat release pheromones. In various cases they emit mating sounds with which they attract males. Once the males have approached, a subtle and brief courtship takes place , with which the mating begins with the male by climbing on the back of the female, after all the process the female looks for a suitable place or substrate in which leave the larvae and that they are comfortable and manage to survive.
Larvae
When they leave the anatomical plexus of their mother, they innately feed on any substrate, being more frequent the larvae that tend to develop on or within various plants or natural factors , such as: the leaves, the roots, the mother and even in some flowers . In some cases these larvae are raised in balls of excrement since their mother creates them so that they can feed on it, these beetles are called coprophages , as in the same way there are ghouls , larvae that hatch in the dead bodies of others. animals and thus optimize their development and evolution.
Breathing
Due to its anatomical composition, its breathing is extremely heavy and slow.
Coleoptera by country
Specifically, it is not known how many there are per country, nor what species exist in the various countries, however, deductions can be drawn for the habitats of beetles , which if recognized is the colloquial and autonomous way with which they are called in some countries, for example: In Colombia they are called cucarrones , in Venezuela they are called congorochos and in Puerto Rico they are called caculos .
Examples
Some examples or names of coleopterans are the following:
- Rhinoceros beetle.
- Ladybug.
- Kick beetle.
- Dung beetle.
- Desert beetle .
Why are they called Coleoptera
The term coleoptera is in part a synonym of beetle, coupled with it, for its wings of thick and almost solidified membranes.
Importance
This order of insects is extremely important for nature and the ecosystem , since they are part of one of the largest species in existence in the animal world, so to speak, coupled with the fact that some of these help to promote the enrichment of the plants in their different habitats.
