A beetle is a member of the order Coleoptera, which contains more species than any other order in the animal kingdom. Beetles are found in nearly every habitat on Earth and are characterized by their hard exoskeletons and chewing mouthparts. The word “beetle” actually refers to a small, winged member of this group; however, many beetles are wingless.
Beetles undergo complete metamorphosis, meaning they have four distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Most beetle larvae are grub-like and live underground, while others may be aquatic or look like miniature adults. The pupal stage usually lasts for several weeks before the adult beetle emerges.
Adult beetles can vary greatly in size and appearance. Some common families of beetles include ladybugs (Coccinellidae), fireflies (Lampyridae), weevils (Curculionidae), click beetles (Elateridae), carpet beetles (Dermestidae), and leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae). Many beetle species are beneficial to humans as they help control pests or pollinate plants; however, some species can be destructive agricultural pests.
The oldest known beetle fossils date back to the Permian period (~300 million years ago), making them one of the most ancient groups of animals on Earth. It is estimated that there are between 4-8 million different species of beetles currently living on our planet!